US8337314B2 - Systems and methods for improving a button assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A button assembly is described. The button assembly includes a light emitting device that emits light. The button assembly further includes a lens cap that protects the light emitting device from being damaged. The lens cap has a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side. The second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane. A first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface. Additionally, a system for increasing life of a pixel is described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,860, filed on Nov. 10, 2006, titled “DYNAMIC DISPLAY SYSTEMS FOR GAMING MACHINES”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,853, filed on Nov. 10, 2006, titled “FLEXIBLY CONFIGURABLE BUTTON PANELS FOR GAMING MACHINES”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a button assembly and particularly to systems and methods for improving the button assembly.

Electronic devices and machines have become an everyday part of life in modern times, as even many traditionally non-electronic items and machines have now gone “high-tech.” While machines such as coin-operated video games, ticket purchasing machines and other types of vending machines have long been electronic, items such as automobiles, washing machines, coffee makers and other appliances now tend to be electronic as well. Many of these electronic machines and items include various input, output and/or functional result devices and components, such that the overall design, manufacture, use and repair of such electronic machines has become increasingly complex.

Casinos and other forms of gaming are a particular example of an industry where electronic machines, such as, for example, microprocessor based gaming machines, are extremely popular. In a typical electronic gaming machine, such as a slot machine, video poker machine, video keno machine or the like, a game play is first initiated through a player wager of money or credit, whereupon the gaming machine determines a game outcome, presents the game outcome to the player and then potentially dispenses an award of some type, including a monetary award, depending upon the game outcome. Electronic and microprocessor based gaming machines can include a variety of hardware and software components to provide a wide variety of game types and game playing capabilities, with such hardware and software components being generally well known in the art. A typical electronic gaming machine can include hardware devices and peripheral such as bill validators, coin acceptors, card readers, keypads, buttons, levers, touch screens, coin hoppers, player tracking units and the like. In addition, each gaming machine can have various audio and visual display components that can include, for example, speakers, display panels, belly and top glasses, exterior cabinet artwork, lights, and top box dioramas, as well as any number of video displays of various types to show game play and other assorted information, with such video display types including, for example, a cathode ray tube (“CRT”), a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a light emitting diode (“LED”), a flat panel display and a plasma display, among others.

As noted above, the design and manufacture of such gaming machines and other electronic machines has become increasingly complex, particularly with the advent of multiple displays, sound output devices, touchscreens, buttons, currency acceptors, card acceptors and an assortment of other peripheral devices that may be part of such machines. One type of item that can be found on many such machines is a “button panel” having a plurality of input buttons that are arranged or configured in a particular fashion for a user of the machine. As is generally known, buttons for such button panels tend to be relatively large and spaced apart from each other in a fashion that is distinctive from smaller keypad types of buttons and arrangements. In particular, such button panels can be found, for example, on coin-operated video games, video poker machines, video keno machines, electronic slot machines, and the like. One example of a generally well-known button panel could be the arrangement of buttons that typically exist on a video poker machine, the button panel for which can include one hold/drop button for each video poker card, a deal/draw button, a repeat bet button, one or more other betting buttons, a cash out button, and/or a service button, among others. While the entire collection of these buttons on the front panel of the video poker machine can be generally be referred to as the “button panel” for that machine, such a button panel might also include one or more other buttons located elsewhere about the machine, or could be a subset of all of the buttons on the front panel of the machine, as may be desired.

While button panels such as the general video poker button panel as noted above can be the same or substantially similar on the same type of machines, the numbers and configurations of such buttons can differ substantially between different models and types of machines. For example, while one slot machine or video game might have six rectangular buttons arranged in a line on a front button panel, the next slot machine or video game might have seven circular buttons arranged or configured in a more artful fashion on an otherwise similar front button panel. Because the numbers and configurations of such button panels can vary widely from one machine type or model to another, it is typical for each of such differing types and models of machine to be designed and manufactured in a customized manner. That is, every different model of gaming machine or other similar electronic device having a button panel typically requires that a separate assessment be made of the buttons, wiring and other parts needed to construct its particular button panel.

As is generally known, such button panels for gaming machines and other similar devices are typically made with customized wiring that runs from each button to another button and/or to one or more processing devices adapted to process input from the various buttons. While such wiring can be organized in various ways, such as through the use of harnesses and/or coupling devices so as to streamline the manufacturing and/or repair processes, it is typically incumbent upon those making the machine to individually connect and solder the endpoints of each wire. This can tend to be a labor intensive process, requiring the expenditure of significant amounts of time and resources to simply wire each button individually. Such customized wiring of buttons individually for each machine can lead to additional problems whenever a mistake is made in the wiring process, the detection and resolution of which can also be costly and time consuming. Furthermore, the repair or switching out of buttons or other defective components can also be costly and time consuming processes where such buttons have been individually wired in a customized manner.

Various attempts have been made to provide improved button panels, details of which may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,102,394 and 6,117,010, as well as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0018877, which references are each incorporated herein by reference. While the various features of these references may provide some benefits regarding button panels, there still remain a variety of drawbacks. For example, the overall configurable and reconfigurable nature of these button panels is not as flexible as may be desired for some manufacturing and repair situations. Furthermore, it does not appear that these button panels have any particularized identifying features, nor are there any specialized processing components or arrangements associated with these button panels, such as to identify missing, malfunctioning or wrongly configured buttons on the button panel.

While existing designs and systems for providing button panels in electronic devices and machines have been adequate in the past, improvements are usually welcomed and encouraged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is thus desirable to develop a more universal and flexible button panel that is adapted to be used in different models of machines, such that the manufacture, use and repair of such a button panel would be streamlined significantly.

Regarding such a more universal and flexible button panel, it is generally known that sophisticated buttons now exist having small display screens thereupon. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,798,359, and 7,071,845, which are each incorporated herein by reference, both teach of buttons having 16×16 pixel LCD screens disposed thereupon. While these particular buttons are used within the context of a keypad, it is generally known that such uses may extend to non-keypad type buttons and button panels. However, the use of such display embedded buttons within wager based gaming machines can present additional problems unique to gaming machines.

As is generally known, electronic wager based gaming machines typically include a master gaming controller (“MGC”) that is responsible for many or all primary gaming machine functions, particularly all random number generator and game determination outcomes, outcome displays, monetary and ticket intake, payouts, user input processing, and various security functions. In addition, the burden for processing many other gaming machine functions tend to be placed on the MGC, with such other functions typically including video and display processing. With the advent of secondary, tertiary and further displays, however, as well as more sophisticated animations, displays and video, the display processing burdens alone that can now be placed on the MGC have become immense. Adding further displays for a plurality of buttons, along with the accompanying processing needs, can only serve to aggravate this existing problem.

Accordingly, while existing gaming machine architectures and designs for providing multiple display processing have been adequate in the past, improvements are usually welcomed and encouraged. In light of the foregoing, it is thus desirable to develop a more dynamic display system that is adapted to be used in sophisticated gaming machines having multiple displays, such that the burdens and drawbacks of relying upon a master gaming controller to do all or much of the display processing for the entire gaming machine can be significantly reduced.

Moreover, a plurality of display elements of the display screen have limited life. Life is an amount of time when an intensity of light emitted by one of the display elements degrades down by a certain percentage. For example, life is an amount of time when an intensity of light emitted by an organic light emitting diode (OLED) degrades down by 50%. The display screen may be replaced when life of at least one of the display elements ends. Accordingly, the faster the life ends, the higher the number of times the display screen may be replaced and the higher the cost of replacement. Further, the faster the life ends, the faster a ghosting effect is created on pixels close to one of the display elements. In the ghosting effect, an image displayed by the one of the display elements is also displayed in the pixels close to the display element. Moreover, the faster the life ends, a difference in intensities of light emitted by one of the display elements and a pixel adjacent to the display element becomes evident faster.

Furthermore, while playing a game by using the electronic devices and machines, a player may enjoy a drink, such as beer or soda. The player may spill the drink on the button panel. The drink enters circuitry inside the electronic devices and machines and may damage the circuitry.

In one aspect, a power control system for increasing the life of a light emitting element is described. The system includes a light emitting element that emits light and receives an indication that main power generated is less than a threshold value before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed. The system further includes a main power supply that generates the main power and a power storage device that stores a portion of the main power to generate stored power. The power storage device supplies the stored power. A portion of the stored power is received by the light emitting element for a limited time period after the power generated by main power supply falls below the threshold value.

The system includes a power detector that monitors the main power supplied by the main power supply and determines whether the main power supplied is less than the threshold value. The power detector generates a signal indicating that the main power is below the threshold value upon determining that the main power supplied is less than the threshold value. The signal generated by the power detector informs a light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold value before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

The system further includes a light emitting device controller that controls the light emitting element by controlling a plurality of storage devices including a plurality of parameters. A logic device of the system receives the signal indicating that the main power is less than the threshold value and sends a command to the light emitting device controller to change the parameters. The light emitting device controller controls the storage devices to turn off the light emitting device upon receiving the command.

In another aspect, a button assembly is described. The button assembly includes a light emitting device that emits light and a lens cap that protects the light emitting device from being damaged. The lens cap has a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side. The second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane. The plane passes through a portion of the first cap side, a portion of the second cap side, a portion of the third cap side, and a portion of the fourth cap side. A first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface. The top surface may be curved, such as dome-shaped.

The button assembly further includes a lens cap holder that holds the lens cap. The lens cap extends below an edge of the lens cap holder to prevent a liquid from flowing from outside the lens cap to inside the lens cap. The button assembly also includes a button housing that receives at least a portion of the lens cap and has a threaded portion that prevents the liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

A gasket of the button assembly surrounds at least a section of the threaded portion to prevent a liquid from entering the button assembly. The button housing includes a housing notch that facilitates passage of the liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing.

The button assembly further includes a clamp that may also be referred to as a spacer. The clamp also includes a clamp notch that facilitates passage of the liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp. The button assembly includes a nut that has a length dimension to prevent a flow of the liquid from outside the nut to inside the nut.

The button assembly includes a switch housing further including a plurality of switch assembly prongs. A button mating component of the button housing connects to a cable connector connected to a flexible cable. One of the switch assembly prongs is configured to extend through an opening in the flexible cable to prevent the button assembly from disengaging from the flexible cable.

In yet another aspect, a controller is described. The controller is used to increase the life of a light emitting element. The controller determines whether an event occurs within a pre-defined time window. The controller inverts a first intensity of a pixel including the light emitting element upon determining that the event does not occur within the pre-defined time window and generates an inverted intensity upon inverting the first intensity.

The controller further generates a reduced intensity. The reduced intensity is generated by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage. The controller restores the pixel to the first intensity upon determining that the event occurs after generating the inverted intensity or the reduced intensity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and process steps for the disclosed inventive systems and methods for improving a button assembly

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view an exemplary gaming machine.

FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary network infrastructure for providing a gaming system having one or more gaming machines.

FIG. 3A illustrates in top plan view an exemplary section of a flexibly configurable button panel having multiple buttons coupled thereto according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates in side elevation view the exemplary section of a flexibly configurable button panel ofFIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 illustrates in a perspective view an exemplary cable connector and button mating component according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate in top, side, front and partially exploded perspective views an exemplary button assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates a partial electrical diagram of an alternative flexibly configurable button panel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B illustrates a selected portion of the electrical diagram ofFIG. 6A in greater detail.

FIG. 7 illustrates an electrical diagram for an exemplary button assembly to flexible cable interface according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A illustrates in top perspective view one exemplary physical configuration of buttons for the flexibly configurable button panel ofFIGS. 3A and 3B according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B illustrates in top perspective view an alternative exemplary physical configuration of buttons for the flexibly configurable button panel ofFIGS. 3A and 3B according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary flexibly configurable button panel and associated processing components according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary dynamic display system for a gaming machine having dynamic display buttons according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method of manufacturing an electronic device having a flexibly configurable button panel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for increasing life of a light emitting element.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a power down procedure for increasing life of a light emitting element executed by using the system ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a continuation of the flowchart ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a continuation of the flowchart ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a button assembly for increasing life of a light emitting element within the assembly.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of increasing life of a light emitting element executed by using the button assembly ofFIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the system ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a power up procedure for increasing a life of a light emitting element executed by using the system ofFIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for increasing life of a light emitting element executed by using the button assembly ofFIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a system for increasing life of a light emitting element.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a button assembly for increasing life of a light emitting element within the assembly.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for increasing life of a light emitting element executed by using the system ofFIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of a button assembly for increasing life of a light emitting element within the assembly.

FIG. 26A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a plurality of pixels having various intensities.

FIG. 26B is a diagram of an embodiment of a pixel having an intensity generated by using the methods illustrated usingFIGS. 23-25.

FIG. 27A is an isometric exploded view of an embodiment of a portion of a button assembly.

FIG. 27B is an isometric exploded view of an embodiment of the remaining portion of the button assembly ofFIG. 27A.

FIG. 28A is an isometric view of an embodiment of a lens cap of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 28B is a front view of the lens cap ofFIG. 28A.

FIG. 29 is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of a lens cap that may be used in the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 30 is an isometric view of still another embodiment of a lens cap that may be used in the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 31A is an isometric view of an embodiment of a portion of a lens cap of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B and a lens cap holder of the button assembly.

FIG. 31B is a front view of an embodiment of the lens cap holder and the lens cap ofFIG. 31A.

FIG. 31C is a side view of an embodiment of the lens cap holder and the lens cap of theFIG. 31A.

FIG. 32A shows a plurality of views of an embodiment of at least a portion of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 32B shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a lens cap holder of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 32C shows an isometric illustrating an embodiment of a switch assembly of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 33A is an isometric view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 33B is an isometric sectional view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 33C is another isometric view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 33D is yet another isometric view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 33E is a front view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 33F is an isometric partially assembled view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 34 is a front view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B.

FIG. 35A is a top view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B as assembled.

FIG. 35B is a front view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B as assembled.

FIG. 35C is a view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B as implemented within the gaming machine ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 36A is an isometric view of an embodiment of the button assembly ofFIGS. 27A and 27B fitted with a flexible cable.

FIG. 36B is a top view of an embodiment of the flexible cable ofFIG. 36A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary applications of methods and systems for improving a button assembly are described as follows. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the methods and systems. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present methods and systems may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known processes have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present methods and systems. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as definitive or limiting in scope or setting. Although these examples are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the methods and systems, it will be understood that they are not limiting, such that other embodiments may be used and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

An advantage of the herein described systems and methods includes increasing life of light emitting element. The light emitting element turns off after a controller controlling the light emitting element and the light emitting element are notified that power from a power supply fell below a limit. The turning off after the notification provides notice in advance to the light emitting element and increases the life of the light emitting element.

Another advantage of the systems and methods includes increasing life of a light emitting element within a pixel by dimming an intensity of the pixel. Yet another advantage of the systems and methods include reducing the ghosting effect by inverting the intensity. The inversion of the intensity provides a substantial uniform intensity across all pixels of a display device to reduce the ghosting effect. The dimming is performed by reducing an intensity of light emitting element.

Yet another advantage of the herein described systems and methods for improving a button assembly include providing a curved surface of a button assembly. The curved surface strengthens the button assembly and protects the button assembly from hard hits received from a game player who may be frustrated with his or her performance in a game or having a bad day or is impatient.

Still another advantage includes providing a plurality of openings within a button assembly. The openings provide an outlet for a liquid that may be spilled by a player and has entered within the button assembly. The openings protect any circuitry within the button assembly and on bottom of the button assembly from damage, such as a short circuit.

Other advantages include providing a gasket, such as a washer, within a button assembly and extending various portions of the button assembly to prevent the liquid from entering the button assembly. Yet other advantages include providing a plurality of prongs to provide additional support to a connection between the button assembly and a flexible cable.

Although a majority of the systems and methods focuses on the use of button assemblies within a wager based gaming machine as illustrative examples, it will be readily understood that the button assemblies can similarly be used in a variety of other electronic devices, such as coin-operated video games, vending machines, ticket purchase machines, and other similar devices having input buttons that are spaced apart in non-keypad type arrangements. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the various flexibly configurable button panels disclosed herein are not restricted to gaming machine applications in all instances. Continuing with the example of gaming machines solely for illustrative purposes within this application, various gaming machines and gaming systems will be presented next, followed by specific details regarding the systems and methods for improving a button assembly.

Referring first toFIG. 1, anexemplary gaming machine10 is illustrated in perspective view.Gaming machine10 includes atop box11 and amain cabinet12, which generally surrounds the machine interior (not shown) and is viewable by users, such as administrators, casino operators, and game players. This top box and/or main cabinet can together or separately form an exterior housing adapted to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein.Main cabinet12 includes amain door20 on the front of the gaming machine, which preferably opens to provide access to the gaming machine interior. Attached to apanel71 of themain door20 are typically one or more player-input switches orbuttons21, which collectively form a button panel, one or more money or credit acceptors, such as acoin acceptor22 and a bill orticket validator23, acoin tray24, and abelly glass25.Panel71 includes a plurality ofpanel openings73. Viewable throughmain door20 is a primary video display monitor26 adapted to present a game, such as a game of chance or a game of skill, and one ormore information panels27. The primary video display monitor26 will typically be a cathode ray tube, high resolution flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma/light emitting diode (LED) display or other conventional or other type of appropriate video monitor. Alternatively, a plurality of gaming reels can be used as a primary gaming machine display in place of display monitor26, with such gaming reels preferably being electronically controlled, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Top box11, which typically rests atop of themain cabinet12, may contain aticket dispenser28, akey pad29, one or moreadditional displays30, acard reader31, one ormore speakers32, atop glass33, one ormore cameras34, and a secondaryvideo display monitor35, which can similarly be a cathode ray tube, a high resolution flat-panel LCD, a plasma/LED display or any other conventional or other type of appropriate video monitor. Alternatively, secondary display monitor35 might also be foregone in place of other displays, such as gaming reels or physical dioramas that might include other moving components, such as, for example, one or more movable dice, a spinning wheel or a rotating display. It will be understood that many makes, models, types and varieties of gaming machines exist, that not every such gaming machine will include all or any of the foregoing items, and that many gaming machines will include other items not described above.

With respect to the basic gaming abilities provided, it will be readily understood thatgaming machine10 can be adapted for presenting and playing any of a number of gaming events, particularly games of chance involving a player wager and potential monetary payout, such as, for example, a wager on a sporting event or general play as a slot machine game, a keno game, a video poker game, a video blackjack game, and/or any other video table game, among others. Other features and functions may also be used in association withgaming machine10, and it is specifically contemplated that the present invention can be used in conjunction with such a gaming machine or device that might encompass any or all such additional types of features and functions.

With respect to electronic gaming machines in particular, the electronic gaming machines made by International Game Technology™ (IGT) corporation are provided with special features and additional circuitry that differentiate them from general-purpose computers, such as a laptop or desktop personal computer (“PC”). Because gaming machines are highly regulated to ensure fairness, and in many cases are operable to dispense monetary awards of millions of dollars, hardware and software architectures that differ significantly from those of general-purpose computers may be implemented into a typical electronic gaming machine in order to satisfy security concerns and the many strict regulatory requirements that apply to a gaming environment. A general description of many such specializations in electronic gaming machines relative to general-purpose computing machines and specific examples of the additional or different components and features found in such electronic gaming machines will now be provided.

At first glance, one might think that adapting PC technologies to the gaming industry would be a simple proposition, since both PCs and gaming machines employ microprocessors that control a variety of devices. However, because of such reasons as 1) the regulatory requirements that are placed upon gaming machines, 2) the harsh environment in which gaming machines operate, 3) security requirements and 4) fault tolerance requirements, adapting PC technologies to a gaming machine can be quite difficult. Further, techniques and methods for solving a problem in the PC industry, such as device compatibility and connectivity issues, might not be adequate in the gaming environment. For instance, a fault or a weakness tolerated in a PC, such as security holes in software or frequent crashes, may not be tolerated in a gaming machine because in a gaming machine these faults can lead to a direct loss of funds from the gaming machine, such as stolen cash or loss of revenue when the gaming machine is not operating properly.

Accordingly, one difference between gaming machines and common PC based computers or systems is that gaming machines are designed to be state-based systems. In a state-based system, the system stores and maintains its current state in a non-volatile memory, such that in the event of a power failure or other malfunction the gaming machine will return to its current state when the power is restored. For instance, if a player were shown an award for a game of chance and the power failed before the award was provided, the gaming machine, upon the restoration of power, would return to the state where the award was indicated. As anyone who has used a PC knows, PCs are not state machines, and a majority of data is usually lost when a malfunction occurs. This basic requirement affects the software and hardware design of a gaming machine in many ways.

A second important difference between gaming machines and common PC based computer systems is that for regulation purposes, the software on the gaming machine used to generate the game of chance and operate the gaming machine must be designed as static and monolithic to prevent cheating by the operator of gaming machine. For instance, one solution that has been employed in the gaming industry to prevent cheating and satisfy regulatory requirements has been to manufacture a gaming machine that can use a proprietary processor running instructions to generate the game of chance from an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) or other form of non-volatile memory. The coding instructions on the EPROM are static (non-changeable) and must be approved by a gaming regulator in a particular jurisdiction and installed in the presence of a person representing the gaming jurisdiction. Any change to any part of the software required to generate the game of chance, such as, for example, adding a new device driver used by the master gaming controller to operate a device during generation of the game of chance, can require a new EPROM to be burnt, approved by the gaming jurisdiction, and reinstalled on the gaming machine in the presence of a gaming regulator. Regardless of whether the EPROM solution is used, to gain approval in most gaming jurisdictions, a gaming machine must demonstrate sufficient safeguards that prevent an operator of the gaming machine from manipulating hardware and software in a manner that gives the operator an unfair or even illegal advantage over a player. The code validation requirements in the gaming industry affect both hardware and software designs on gaming machines.

A third important difference between gaming machines and common PC based computer systems is that the number and kinds of peripheral devices used on a gaming machine are not as great as on PC based computer systems. Traditionally in the gaming industry, gaming machines have been relatively simple in the sense that the number of peripheral devices and the number of functions on the gaming machine have been limited. Further, the functionality of a gaming machine tends to remain relatively constant once the gaming machine is deployed, in that new peripheral devices and new gaming software is infrequently added to an existing operational gaming machine. This differs from a PC, where the users tend to buy new and different combinations of devices and software from different manufacturers, and then connect or install these new items to a PC to suit their individual needs. Therefore, the types of devices connected to a PC may vary greatly from user to user depending on their individual requirements, and may also vary significantly over time for a given PC.

Although the variety of devices available for a PC may be greater than on a gaming machine, gaming machines still have unique device requirements that differ from a PC, such as device security requirements not usually addressed by PCs. For instance, monetary devices such as coin dispensers, bill validators, ticket printers and computing devices that are used to govern the input and output of cash to a gaming machine have security requirements that are not typically addressed in PCs. Many PC techniques and methods developed to facilitate device connectivity and device compatibility do not address the emphasis placed on security in the gaming industry. To address some of these issues, a number of hardware/software components and architectures are utilized in gaming machines that are not typically found in general-purpose computing devices, such as PCs. These hardware/software components and architectures include, but are not limited to, items such as watchdog timers, voltage monitoring systems, state-based software architectures and supporting hardware, specialized communication interfaces, security monitoring, and trusted memory.

A watchdog timer is normally used in IGT gaming machines to provide a software failure detection mechanism. In a normal operating system, the operating software periodically accesses control registers in a watchdog timer subsystem to “re-trigger” the watchdog. Should the operating software not access the control registers within a preset timeframe, the watchdog timer will time out and generate a system reset. Typical watchdog timer circuits contain a loadable timeout counter register to allow the operating software to set the timeout interval within a certain time range. A differentiating feature of some preferred circuits is that the operating software cannot completely disable the function of the watchdog timer. In other words, the watchdog timer always functions from the time power is applied to the board.

IGT gaming computer platforms preferably use several power supply voltages to operate portions of the computer circuitry. These can be generated in a central power supply or locally on the computer board. If any of these voltages falls out of the tolerance limits of the circuitry they power, unpredictable operation of the computer may result. Though most modern general-purpose computers include voltage-monitoring circuitry, these types of circuits only report voltage status to the operating software. Out of tolerance voltages can cause software malfunction, creating a potential uncontrolled condition in the gaming computer. IGT gaming machines, however, typically have power supplies with tighter voltage margins than that required by the operating circuitry. In addition, the voltage monitoring circuitry implemented in IGT gaming computers typically has two limitations of control. The first limitation generates a software event that can be detected by the operating software and an error condition generated. This limitation is triggered when a power supply voltage falls out of the tolerance range of the power supply, but is still within the operating range of the circuitry. The second limitation is set when a power supply voltage falls out of the operating tolerance of the circuitry. In this case, the circuitry generates a reset, halting operation of the computer.

The standard method of operation for IGT gaming machine game software is to use a state machine. Each function of the game (e.g., bet, play, result) is defined as a state. When a game moves from one state to another, critical data regarding the game software is stored in a custom non-volatile memory subsystem. In addition, game history information regarding previous games played, amounts wagered, and so forth also should be stored in a non-volatile memory device. This feature allows the game to recover operation to the current state of play in the event of a malfunction, loss of power, or the like. This is critical to ensure that correct wagers and credits are preserved. Typically, battery backed random access memory (RAM) devices are used to preserve this critical data. These memory devices are not used in typical general-purpose computers. Further, IGT gaming computers normally contain additional interfaces, including serial interfaces, to connect to specific subsystems internal and external to the gaming machine. The serial devices may have electrical interface requirements that differ from the “standard” EIA RS232 serial interfaces provided by general-purpose computers. These interfaces may include EIA RS485, EIA RS422, Fiber Optic Serial, optically coupled serial interfaces, current loop style serial interfaces, and the like. In addition, to conserve serial interfaces internally in the gaming machine, serial devices may be connected in a shared, daisy-chain fashion where multiple peripheral devices are connected to a single serial channel.

IGT gaming machines may alternatively be treated as peripheral devices to a casino communication controller and connected in a shared daisy chain fashion to a single serial interface. In both cases, the peripheral devices are preferably assigned device addresses. If so, the serial controller circuitry must implement a method to generate or detect unique device addresses. General-purpose computer serial ports are not able to do this. In addition, security-monitoring circuits detect intrusion into an IGT gaming machine by monitoring security switches attached to access doors in the gaming machine cabinet. Preferably, access violations result in suspension of game play and can trigger additional security operations to preserve the current state of game play. These circuits also function when power is off by use of a battery backup. In power-off operation, these circuits continue to monitor the access doors of the gaming machine. When power is restored, the gaming machine can determine whether any security violations occurred while power was off, such as by software for reading status registers. This can trigger event log entries and further data authentication operations by the gaming machine software.

Trusted memory devices are preferably included in an IGT gaming machine computer to ensure the authenticity of the software that may be stored on less secure memory subsystems, such as mass storage devices. Trusted memory devices and controlling circuitry are typically designed to not allow modification of the code and data stored in the memory device while the memory device is installed in the gaming machine. The code and data stored in these devices may include, for example, authentication algorithms, random number generators, authentication keys, operating system kernels, and so forth. The purpose of these trusted memory devices is to provide gaming regulatory authorities a root trusted authority within the computing environment of the gaming machine that can be tracked and verified as original. This may be accomplished via removal of the trusted memory device from the gaming machine computer and verification of the secure memory device contents is a separate third party verification device. Once the trusted memory device is verified as authentic, and based on the approval of verification algorithms contained in the trusted device, the gaming machine is allowed to verify the authenticity of additional code and data that may be located in the gaming computer assembly, such as code and data stored on hard disk drives.

Mass storage devices used in a general-purpose computer typically allow code and data to be read from and written to the mass storage device. In a gaming machine environment, modification of the gaming code stored on a mass storage device is strictly controlled and would only be allowed under specific maintenance type events with electronic and physical enablers required. Though this level of security could be provided by software, IGT gaming computers that include mass storage devices preferably include hardware level mass storage data protection circuitry that operates at the circuit level to monitor attempts to modify data on the mass storage device and will generate both software and hardware error triggers should a data modification be attempted without the proper electronic and physical enablers being present. In addition to the basic gaming abilities provided, these and other features and functions serve to differentiate gaming machines into a special class of computing devices separate and distinct from general-purpose computers.

Continuing withFIG. 2, an exemplary network infrastructure for providing a gaming system having one or more gaming machines is illustrated in block diagram format.Exemplary gaming system50 has one or more gaming machines, various communication items, and a number of host-side components and devices adapted for use within a gaming environment. As shown, one ormore gaming machines10 adapted for use ingaming system50 can be in a plurality of locations, such as in banks on a casino floor or standing alone at a smaller non-gaming establishment, as desired.Common bus51 can connect one or more gaming machines or devices to a number of networked devices on thegaming system50, such as, for example, a general-purpose server60, one or more special-purpose servers70, a sub-network ofperipheral devices80, and/or adatabase90.

A general-purpose server60 may be one that is already present within a casino or other establishment for one or more other purposes beyond any monitoring or administering involving gaming machines. Functions for such a general-purpose server can include other general and game specific accounting functions, payroll functions, general Internet and e-mail capabilities, switch board communications, and reservations and other hotel and restaurant operations, as well as other assorted general establishment record keeping and operations. In some cases, specific gaming related functions such as cashless gaming, downloadable gaming, player tracking, remote game administration, video or other data transmission, or other types of functions may also be associated with or performed by such a general-purpose server. For example, such a server may contain various programs related to cashless gaming administration, player tracking operations, specific player account administration, remote game play administration, remote game player verification, remote gaming administration, downloadable gaming administration, and/or visual image or video data storage, transfer and distribution, and may also be linked to one or more gaming machines, in some cases forming a network that includes all or many of the gaming devices and/or machines within the establishment. Communications can then be exchanged from each adapted gaming machine to one or more related programs or modules on the general-purpose server.

In one embodiment,gaming system50 contains one or more special-purpose servers that can be used for various functions relating to the provision of cashless gaming and gaming machine administration and operation under the present methods and systems. Such a special-purpose server or servers could include, for example, a cashless gaming server, a player verification server, a general game server, a downloadable games server, a specialized accounting server, and/or a visual image or video distribution server, among others. Of course, these functions may all be combined onto a single specialized server. Such additional special-purpose servers are desirable for a variety of reasons, such as, for example, to lessen the burden on an existing general-purpose server or to isolate or wall off some or all gaming machine administration and operations data and functions from the general-purpose server and thereby increase security and limit the possible modes of access to such operations and information.

Alternatively,exemplary gaming system50 can be isolated from any other network at the establishment, such that a general-purpose server60 is essentially impractical and unnecessary. Under either embodiment of an isolated or shared network, one or more of the special-purpose servers are preferably connected to sub-network80, which might be, for example, a cashier station or terminal. Peripheral devices in this sub-network may include, for example, one or more video displays81, one ormore user terminals82, one ormore printers83, and one or moreother input devices84, such as a ticket validator or other security identifier, among others. Similarly, under either embodiment of an isolated or shared network, at least thespecialized server70 or another similar component within a general-purpose server60 also preferably includes a connection to a database or othersuitable storage medium90.Database90 is preferably adapted to store many or all files containing pertinent data or information for a particular purpose, such as, for example, data regarding visual image data, video clips, other displayable items, and/or related data, among other potential items. Files, data and other information ondatabase90 can be stored for backup purposes, and are preferably accessible at one or more system locations, such as at a general-purpose server60, aspecial purpose server70 and/or a cashier station or othersub-network location80, as desired.

Whilegaming system50 can be a system that is specially designed and created new for use in a casino or gaming establishment, it is also possible that many items in this system can be taken or adopted from an existing gaming system. For example,gaming system50 could represent an existing cashless gaming system to which one or more of the inventive components or controller arrangements are added, such as controllers, storage media, and/or other components that may be associated with a dynamic display system adapted for use across multiple gaming machines and devices. In addition to new hardware, new functionality via new software, modules, updates or otherwise can be provided to an existingdatabase90,specialized server70 and/or general-purpose server60, as desired. Other modifications to an existing system may also be necessary, as might be readily appreciated.

As noted above, many electronic devices include a “button panel” having a plurality of input buttons that are arranged or configured in a particular fashion for the user of the machine. As is generally known, buttons for such button panels tend to be relatively large and spaced apart from each other in a fashion that is distinctive from smaller keypad types of buttons. As also noted above, such button panels tend to be manufactured through individual wiring and soldering techniques, which tend to involve substantial amounts of skilled labor and increasing messiness as the number of buttons increases. Even in the improved examples set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,102,394 and 6,117,010, as well as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0018877, as noted above, the levels of flexibility in configuring buttons and ease in manufacture and use of button panels is not fully maximized.

Turning now toFIGS. 3A and 3B, an exemplary section of a flexibly configurable button panel having multiple buttons coupled thereto according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in top plan and side elevation views. Flexiblyconfigurable button panel100 includes aflexible cable110 having a plurality circuit lines111. Although a variety of items can suffice as such a flexible cable having circuit lines, a flat flex circuit having printed circuit lines is thought to work well for this purpose. While such an item could conceivably be an off the shelf model flat flex circuit, it is generally understood in the art that many flat flex circuits are custom designed and manufactured for particular applications. Preferably then, such an item could be custom designed or manufactured by any suitable flexible cable or flat flex circuit manufacturer. Although a flat flex circuit is thought to work well, alternative items can also be used instead. For example, a specially adapted ribbon cable or appropriately bundled and insulated cluster of wires can also suffice as such aflexible cable110.

As illustrated,flexible cable110 preferably includes various separate access locations where the printed circuits or other suitable wiring within the flexible cable can be accessed. Such access locations can comprise, in the case of a flat flex circuit for example, a grouped set of contacts that are exposed through the insulating exterior of the flat flex circuit material, such that some or all of the circuits within the flexible cable are accessible at the access point.Flexible cable110, and in particular one or more processors that may be associated therewith, is preferably adapted to physically address each such access location, as described in greater detail below.

Such access locations are preferably spaced apart along the length of the flexible cable, with spacing between consecutive access locations being subject to variable designs. For example, such spacing can be on the order of a fraction of an inch, one inch, or several inches or more for some or all spacings between flexible cable access locations. In some embodiments, spacing between such access locations can vary, with the shortest spacing being a fraction of an inch and the longest being several inches or more. In one particular example, a flat flex circuit having sixteen access locations and variable spacings therebetween can be provided, with such variable spacings ranging from one to six inches. As will be readily appreciated, the amounts of and spacings between flexible cable access locations are simply a matter of design, and all such numbers of access locations and spacings therebetween are contemplated for use with the present invention. As will also be appreciated, the actual respective physical locations of any attachments to consecutive access locations can range from zero to the actual length of flexible cable between those attachments, due to the flexible nature of the cable.

Cable connectors120,121 can be coupled to theflexible cable110 at some or all such access locations, so as to provide electrical access to the circuit lines along the flexible cable. Such cable connectors can include, for example, surface mount, through-hole and/or press-fit connectors, although one or more other suitable types of cable connectors can be used along with or instead of these connector types. As will be readily appreciated, eachcable connector120,121 can be adapted to provide access to all circuit lines or some subset thereof, as may be appropriate for any given design. In various embodiments,such cable connectors120,121 can serve as “plug in” type connectors, such that buttons and/or other appropriate devices may be removably interchanged along the flexible cable via the cable connectors. Also, while some embodiments may involve acable connector120,121 being installed at every access location along the flexible cable, others may involve only a subset of access locations with cable connectors being installed. In such instances, caps, covers or other suitable materials may be used to close off unused access points.

As shown in this particular example of flexiblyconfigurable button panel100,cable connectors120 are preferably adapted for mating with button assemblies or switches, whilecable connector121 is preferably adapted for mating with a harness or other suitable connecting component that leads to a processing unit and/or other circuit board within the overall electronic device. As such,cable connectors120 and121 are preferably different in size, shape and/or electrical connections made, such that an improper button assembly, switch, harness, processor board or other component cannot be improperly plugged into the wrong cable connector. For example, while each buttonassembly cable connector120 might be adapted to connect to only a subset of thecircuit lines111,processor cable connector121 might be adapted to connect to all of the circuit lines, such that activity on every circuit line can be processed via this processor cable connector. It will be readily appreciated that other cable connector types for other components that might be included onbutton panel100 might similarly be different, in the event that advanced designs might call for components other than those described herein.

Switches orbutton assemblies130 can be plugged into, installed at or otherwise coupled to one ormore cable connectors120. In various embodiments, eachbutton assembly130 can include abutton mating component131 that is adapted to mate or otherwise interface with one or more appropriate buttonassembly cable connectors120. As will be readily appreciated, not every cable connector must have an associated switch, button assembly or other component. For example, the illustrated section offlexible cable110 includes eightcable connectors120 for button assemblies or switches130, but only five switches being installed, with three open and unused cable connectors. It is specifically contemplated that this five button arrangement be an acceptable and working flexiblyconfigurable button panel100, with the open and unused cable connectors simply being superfluous in this case. Of course, many other numbers and arrangements of total cable connectors, mating button assemblies and unused cable connectors may also be possible for any given button panel. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to cap, cover or otherwise close off unused cable connectors for a givenbutton panel100.

As set forth herein, all switches, button assemblies or “buttons”130 are interconnected along theflexible cable110 in a manner that enables theoverall button panel100 and/or other external components to physically address each button separately. Eachbutton130 is provided a unique address due to the circuitry design of theflexible cable110, such that communications can be provided at each individual button as may be appropriate. Eachbutton130 receives communications through a communications stream, as theflexible cable110 via its associatedcircuit lines111 serves as a communications bus for all buttons coupled thereto. Of course, such communications are made between thebutton panel100 and an outside source, such as a processor, which processor can be connected to the button panel via a suitableprocessor cable connector121.

As shown in the illustrated example,processor harness140 havingcircuit lines141 can be coupled toflexible cable110 viaprocessing cable connector121. As noted above,processor harness140 can be used to connect the entireflexible cable110 and thereby all switches and buttons thereupon to an externally located processor or other component within the overall electronic device. As will be appreciated, there can be a one-to-one correspondence withcircuit lines111 and141, such that all power, communications and/or signals that are sent alongflexible cable110 are also sent along harness orother processor connector140. In some embodiments,harness140 may be foregone in favor of plugging or otherwise coupling a board, processing unit or other component directly toprocessing cable connector121.

In some embodiments, not allbutton assemblies130 need be plugged into or otherwise coupled tocable connectors120 directly. For example, one or more button harnesses150 may be used, whereupon the associated button assembly is thereby flexibly locatable with respect to said flexible cable itself. Such abutton harness150 can contain a number of buttonharness circuit lines151, which can be in one-to-one correspondence with the connections made onbutton cable connector120 andbutton mating component131. Such abutton harness150 can be particularly advantageous in instances where the ordinary configurability ofbutton panel100 is not flexible enough for a given application. For example, a button harness might be desirable in a custom application where one or more buttons are to be placed in a remote location away from the rest of the buttons in the button panel, such as in a top box or on the side of the gaming machine. Or, it may simply be the case that the spacing for a given button panel is simply not long enough for a particular button or two, whereupon abutton harness150 can be used to provide any needed slack.

Bothprocessor harness140 andbutton harness150 can be similar toflexible cable110 with respect to their flexible nature and inclusion of circuit lines. Alternatively one or both types of harnesses may be of a different size, structure or even type of cable with respect to the primaryflexible cable110. As in the case offlexible cable110, harnesses140 and150 can be flat flex circuits with printed circuit lines, ribbon cables, appropriately bundled and insulated clusters of wires, or any other suitable arrangement that achieves the multiple circuit connections as needed.

Moving next toFIG. 4, an exemplary cable connector and button mating component are shown in a perspective view.Button cable connector120 can be any of a variety of cable connector types, as noted above. For purposes of illustration here,cable connector120 is a surface mount type connector. As shown, the surface mount connector used ascable connector120 is mounted to the surface of theflexible cable110 such that the various leads of the cable connector connect to thecircuit lines111 of the flexible cable. Thecable connector120 is preferably arranged such that a suitablebutton mating component131 can be plugged into the cable connector. As will be readily appreciated, such a button mating component is preferably attached to an appropriate switch button assembly, so as to facilitate the ready installation or removal of such a switch or button assembly.

Although any number of suitable cable connectors may be used, including cable connectors other than surface mount connectors, it is thought that a 21-position surface mount connector is particularly suitable for such acable connector120. In some embodiments, these same parts can be used repeatedly for allbutton cable connectors120 andbutton mating components131 on the button panel. Similar items having more positions so as to connect to all circuit lines can be used for theprocessor connector121 and mating component fromprocessor harness140.

FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate in top, side, front and partially exploded perspective views an exemplary button assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. As will be readily appreciated,button assembly130 may also be and/or referred to as a simple switch, button or other similar actuating component that can be included as part ofbutton panel100. Such a switch, button, button assembly or other suitable component can be any of a wide variety of components that can be used in conjunction with the flexible cable, cable connectors and other components of the inventive button panels disclosed herein. In fact, any of the various examples of buttons set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,102,394; 6,117,010; 6,798,359, and 7,071,845, as well as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0018877, all incorporated above, can be suitably used as buttons in the present flexibly configurable button panel. Various other switches and button assemblies might also be used, and it is specifically contemplated that the present invention is not limited in any way by the number, types or models of switches or buttons that are used therewith.

In general, button assembly can include atop face132 as part of an actuating top portion or “button”133, atop receiving portion134 adapted to receive the actuating button, and a non-movinglower body135. Such a basic actuating button assembly is generally well understood within the art. While additional collars, sleeves, knobs, contacts, screws and/or other components may be present, the detailed design of such a button assembly is not critical to the overall scope of the present invention, and all such detailed button assembly designs may be used.

In various preferred embodiments,button assembly130 can include asmall display screen136 embedded therein, which display screen can be adapted to display static images, animations and/or video on the button itself. Accordingly,top face132 is preferably made of a clear or non-opaque material, such that the contents ofdisplay screen136 can be seen therethrough. Again, such a display screen can be similar to that which is described for a button display screen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,798,359, and 7,071,845, as noted above, and other button display screen types may also be used. As one alternative to the foregoing, a more detailed display screen of, for example, 96×96 pixels or 128×128 pixels may be used. As will be readily appreciated, such a small LCD type display screen for a button is typically of the type that is custom designed and manufactured, with any of a number of suitable LCD manufacturers being able to produce such screens to the desired specifications.

With the use of such a display screen, it is specifically contemplated that such a display screen enhanced button assembly also be outfitted with a small controller, logic device and/or chip or other storage device, so as to aid in the display of images, animations and/or video on the button itself. Such a logic device or small controller can be used to facilitate the display of static images, animations or video on its subject button, as will be readily appreciated. Another button feature that can be used in conjunction with or separate from a button display screen can involve the use of backlighting within the button display area. Such backlighting can be facilitated, for example, through the use of red, green and blue LED backlights (not shown), which can then be lit up in different degrees and combinations to produce a wide variety of backlight colors on the face of the button. For example, a combination of the red, green, and blue LED backlights may be used to generate white light. As in the case of the display screen, such backlights can also be controlled by a small controller, logic device and/or chip installed within the button itself for display control purposes.

Turning next toFIG. 6A a simple electrical diagram for an alternative flexibly configurable button panel according to one embodiment of the present invention are provided. Alternative flexiblyconfigurable button panel200 can be substantially similar in many regards with respect to the exemplary flexiblyconfigurable button panel100 described above. For example,button panel200 can include a plurality of identical orsimilar circuit lines211, and a plurality of identical or similar installedbutton assemblies230. Unlikeshorter button panel100, it can be seen thatlonger button panel200 can include up to 16 switches or buttons, designated here as buttons A through P, as opposed to just the eight switches or buttons that can be used on the exemplary strip ofbutton panel100. Again, the number of buttons or connections for such buttons is not intended to be limited, and it is specifically contemplated that similar button panels having less or more than 16 switches, buttons or connections for such may be provided. Further, as in the example above, it is not necessary that every connector or position be filled by an actual button assembly or switch, such that various empty connectors or positions may be present.

It may be preferable in some manufacturing operations to have “short”, “medium”, and “long” lengths of flexibly configurable button panels, such that gaming machines requiring small, regular or particularly large amounts of buttons on a button panel can be provided with appropriate length flexible button panels. For example, it can be designated that a manufacturer keep inventory parts that include three types of flexible cable strips for all flexibly configurable button panels—an 8 button flexible cable strip, such as that shown inpanel100 above, a 10 button flexible cable strip, and a 16 button flexible cable strip, such as that shown inpanel200 here. Thus, any gaming machine having a button panel requiring connections for 8 buttons can be provided with the “short” length strip, any gaming machine having a button panel requiring connections for 10 buttons can be provided with the “medium” length strip, and any gaming machine having a button panel requiring connections for 16 buttons can be provided with the “long” length strip. In the event that a given gaming machine might require more than 16 buttons for a button panel, an even longer button strip may be designed, or multiple strips of the provided lengths in inventory could be used. In another embodiment, in the event that a given gaming machine might require more than 16 buttons for a button panel, multiple button systems may be used. For example, a first one of the button systems accommodates buttons1-16 and a second one of the button systems accommodates the remaining buttons starting frombutton17.

Continuing on toFIG. 6B, a selected portion of the electrical diagram ofFIG. 6A in shown in greater detail. In this figure, only the section of flexiblyconfigurable button panel200 from button positions A through C is depicted, with such positions being shown as simply accesslocations222 for purposes of illustration. As will be readily appreciated, some ofcircuit lines211 are made available to all buttons (i.e., access locations) in parallel, and others being made available only to select buttons or access locations. In particular, specific address lines can be created such that only certain buttons and button positions are connected to certain address lines. As shown, the various commonly accessible circuit lines compriselines211athrough211l, which can include, for example, various power lines, data lines, a low voltage detection line, programming lines, clock lines, strobe lines and ground lines, among others. The low voltage detection line is a dedicated line. It will be readily appreciated that more or fewer and/or different types of circuit lines may be used, as the needs of a particular design may require, and that the present example is only provided for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 7 illustrates an electrical diagram for an exemplary button assembly to flexible cable interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. Again, such an electrical schematic is presented only for illustrative purposes, and it will be readily appreciated that a wide variety of alternative electrical arrangements may be suitably used with the present invention. As shown,access location222A can be the same access location set forth inFIG. 6B. Such an access location is wired for a 21-position cable connector220. As noted above with respect toFIG. 6B, thevarious circuit lines211 and separate address lines connecting to thecable connector220 can be of various types. In this particular embodiment, positions1 and19 ofcable connector220 connect to a set of power lines, whilepositions2 and12 connect to clock lines. A logic device, described below, receives power, such as 13.X V or 14.X volts (V), viaposition19 ofcable connector220 at a time when a main power supply, described below, is supplying power greater than or equal to a threshold value, also described below. The logic device receives the power viaposition19 to operate on data, where X is a real number. The logic device receives another amount of power, such as 3.X V or 4.X V, viaposition1 ofcable connector220 to operate on a logic signal.Positions3 and13 connect to “XMT” or transmit data lines, whilepositions4 and14 connect to “REC” or receive data lines.Positions5 and15 connect to strobe or synchronization lines, whilepositions6 and16-18 connect to respective in-system programming lines TD_1-2, TD_10-1, TCLK2, and TMS2. Positions20-21 connect to ground lines, while positions8-11 connect to the address lines, which are used to provide each access location with its own unique address along the flexible cable.Position7 connects to the low voltage detection line. It will be readily appreciated that the electrical layouts for each of access locations222B,222C and so forth are substantially similar, albeit with different properties along the set of four address lines, so as to create the unique address for each access location and thus button assembly that may be installed thereupon. Allcircuit lines211a-211lare incorporated withinflexible cable110.

Moving next toFIG. 8A an exemplary physical configuration of buttons for the flexibly configurable button panel ofFIGS. 3A and 3B is illustrated in top perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, physicalbutton panel configuration101 can involve an actual button configuration and installation into an appropriate electronic device, such as a gaming machine, coin-operated video game, or the like. Physicalbutton panel configuration101 includes the use of the previously described flexiblyconfigurable button panel100, having aflexible cable110,cable connectors120,button assemblies130 and harnesses140,150. As will be readily appreciated, other different button panels might also be used to arrive at the same physicalbutton panel configuration101. For example, a button panel having a flexible cable with 15 button locations might also be used to achieve the same end configuration result with five used buttons.Configuration101 results in the fivebuttons130 of the flexibly configurable button panel being arranged such that the first four buttons are in an evenly spaced straight line, while the fifth button is located at some distance above and to the right of the other four buttons.

Such a resulting button configuration can be aided by the use of specific holes or locations set forth in a mountingsupport plate161 or other suitable cover plate or device that can be used for locating the buttons for the button panel. Mountingsupport plate161 can be included as part of a flexibly configurable button panel or electronic device having such a button panel, although such a button panel may not always require such a mounting support plate or other cover device. Such a mounting support plate can be formed from a rigid material that is sufficiently sturdy for installation into a gaming machine or other electronic device. Holes can be created within the support plate or cover device, such that the various switches, button assemblies and/or other similar components of the button panel can be located through the holes and mounted to or with respect to the mounting support plate or cover plate. In some embodiments, button assemblies can be attached directly to the mounting support plate, with the sturdy nature of the support plate then providing support for the mounted buttons. Alternatively, the plate can function simply as a cover device, with the buttons being mounted to a device frame or some other support beneath the cover plate.

FIG. 8B illustrates in top perspective view an alternative exemplary physical configuration of buttons for the flexibly configurable button panel ofFIGS. 3A and 3B. Whileconfiguration101 ofFIG. 8A had the first four buttons of flexiblyconfigurable button panel100 in an evenly spaced line, alternative physicalbutton panel configuration102 provides that thesame buttons130 from thesame button panel100 can alternatively be arranged into a circle instead. As will be appreciated, all components fromconfigurations101 and102 can be identical, with the exception of the respective mounting support plates. As such, mountingsupport plate162 forconfiguration102 is alternatively adapted to have holes such that thebuttons130 can be arranged in a circular formation. It is specifically contemplated that the same flexiblyconfigurable button panel100 fromFIG. 8A could be removed from thesupport plate161 andconfiguration101 depicted there, and then readily installed intoconfiguration102 withsupport plate162 as shown inFIG. 8B. Such flexibility and reconfigurability are made possible through the flexible, twistable and bendable nature offlexible cable110, to which thebuttons130 are attached.

As will be readily appreciated, a wide variety of configurations having differing numbers of buttons can be used, and it is specifically contemplated that the flexibly configurable button panels disclosed herein can be reconfigured from one to another configuration in many such instances. For example, where a third different button configuration (not shown) having seven buttons in a triangular shape might be desired, two buttons could be added to openconnectors120 alongbutton panel100, and theflexible cable110 then readjusted such that the buttons can all align in a triangle. Although the ability to reconfigure for different numbers of buttons and relative button locations is useful, another significant application for the flexibly configurable button panels disclosed herein can be the streamlined manufacture of many such button panels for installation into different model gaming machines having different button numbers and configuration requirements. To this end, additional features such as different button panel specifications and identification numbers or codes for such specs can be useful. Dedicated button panel processors can also be particularly useful for such flexibly configurable button panels.

Referring now toFIG. 9, a block diagram of an exemplary flexibly configurable button panel and various associated processing components is provided according to one embodiment of the present invention. Flexiblyconfigurable button panel100 can be identical or substantially similar to foregoing embodiments, and as such may haveflexible cable110 connecting a plurality ofbuttons130, some or all of which may have abutton display screen136 embedded therein. Aprocessor harness140 can be used to connectflexible cable110 to a buttonpanel identification device170, which button panel identification (ID) device may include anID component171 having a particular identifying number or code. The buttonpanel ID device170 may also be in communication with a dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180, such as by a further extendingcommunication line172. The dynamicbutton panel controller180 may then in turn be in communication with amaster gaming controller190 of a gaming machine or other CPU type component of an alternative electronic device viacommunication line181.

As will be readily appreciated, the exact general arrangement depicted herein is not intended to be limiting, and other arrangements are certainly possible. For example, it is possible to have buttonpanel ID device170 and/or dynamicbutton panel controller180 be disposed on a single board into whichflexible cable110 is directly plugged, such thatharness140 and acoupling communication line172 are then unnecessary. In some embodiments, buttonpanel ID device170 and dynamicbutton panel controller180 can be located on the same board or even on the same chipset or chip, as may be desired.

In various embodiments, button panel ID device can be used to identify the exact associatedbutton panel100, such as a manufacturer's serial number, although preferably such an ID number or code can correspond to a particular callout of button assemblies that should be present at specific cable connectors along theflexible cable110. In this manner, the particular number or code onID component171 can be used to designate the number of buttons to be used on the button panel, the types of buttons to be used, the exact locations or addresses for such buttons on the various open connectors of the button panel, and/or the numbers and locations of open connectors to which no items should be plugged or directly coupled. The actual ID component can be any of a variety of item, such as, for example, a set of switches that can be set manually or electrically, or a small processing unit and/or memory or other storage device adapted to contain the appropriate ID number or code. In the event that manual switches are used, DIP switches are thought to work well, although other forms of manual switches may certainly be substituted.

Dynamicbutton panel controller180 can be adapted to perform a number of button related functions, including, for example, the polling or checking of buttons, button diagnostics, button programming, button input processing, and video or visual image processing for button having display screens, among other pertinent functions. It is worth noting that dynamicbutton panel controller180 is set apart frommaster gaming controller190, such that the bulk of processing for theentire button panel100 can be accomplished by thisdedicated controller180, thereby alleviating some of the processing burdens on the MGC, which can be particularly useful for instances where large numbers of buttons are being used. Although a variety of connection types can be used, it is thought that a universal serial bus (“USB”)type connection181 between the dynamicbutton panel controller180 andMGC190 is particularly suitable.

While dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 is preferably adapted to process input from each of thevarious button assemblies130 on thebutton panel100, such a button panel controller may also be used to determine whether the number of buttons and/or configuration of buttons is proper. As noted above, buttonpanel ID device170 havingparticular ID component171 can be used to set forth the exact number, type and arrangement of buttons alongflexible cable110. In some embodiments, button panel ID device can be a relatively “dumb” communications and power processing device, such that the actualbutton panel controller180 is adapted to read the ID code from the ID component, and then poll the various button addresses to ensure that the proper component or no component is present at each such address. Alternatively, button panel ID device can be adapted to perform this function as well. Such a polling or checking function can be one that is performed during the manufacturing process, during a startup or boot process, during a diagnostics check, or at any other time as may be appropriate. In some embodiments, such a function can be used to detect broken or malfunctioning buttons during regular operations, such that an alert can be given if a problem is detected.

In addition to the foregoing functions,button panel controller180 can also be a video or display processing device for each of the button displays136 on the associatedbuttons130. Such a processing device can be responsible not only for uploading images, animations and/or video clips to each individual button display, but can also be a storage location for holding such display items as well. Associated memory components (not shown) may be used to facilitate such a function. For this specialized functionality,controller180 is preferably a video type processor, with a wide variety of such processors being suitable for use with the present invention. Although other brands and models may certainly be used, it is thought that the ADSP-BF534 Blackfin® model processor by Analog Devices™ Inc., of Norwood Mass. is suitable for such a purpose. Such a processor can be used to control all desired display and other functionalities with respect tobutton panel100, and in the event that multiple button panels are used in a given gaming machine or other electronic device, such multiple panels may also be controlled by such a Blackfin® processor.

As described above with respect to the use of a dedicated button panel controller that can be used to control and drive the displays of various buttons, similar considerations can be made with respect to some or all displays in a gaming machine. Moving now toFIG. 10, a block diagram of anexemplary system300 for a. gaming machine having dynamic display buttons according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided. Several components ofoverall system300 can be identical or substantially similar to previously disclosed items. For example,gaming machine310 can be similar togaming machine10, gaming machine displays326 and335 can be similar todisplays26 and35,master gaming controller390 can be similar tomaster gaming controller190, flexiblyconfigurable button panels303 and304 can be similar to flexiblyconfigurable button panels100 and200, and dynamicbutton panel controllers381 and382 can be similar to dynamicbutton panel controller180. As in the foregoing embodiments, various buttons from one or both button panels can be equipped with “dynamic displays,” such that the respective dynamic button panel controller should be a display controller as well. Additional components can include other dynamic displays, such as, for example, a player tracking device withdisplay306, a panel of bonus displays305, and specializeddynamic displays385,386 and387 distributed about the gaming machine.

While primarygaming machine display326 andtop box display335 may be driven and directly controlled by one or more elements withinMGC390, various other dynamic displays are preferably driven and directly controlled by display controllers that are located outside the province ofMGC390. For example, the dynamicbutton panel controller381 and subjectdynamic button panel303 can be arranged as set forth above in the examples ofFIG. 9, and a similar arrangement can be had forcontroller382 and itssubject button panel304. Alternatively, only one dynamicbutton panel controller381 might be used for bothbutton panels303,304 bearing buttons with dynamic displays, withcontroller382 either not being used or being included into a combination controller board withcontroller381. Also,dynamic display controller383 might be used to control the displays of a bonusdynamic display panel305, with such a dynamic display controller being similar set apart fromMGC390. In fact,dynamic display controller383 may even be built into bonusdynamic display panel305, as shown. Similarly,dynamic display controller384 can be adapted for the control of a dynamic display on aplayer tracking device306, and may also be built into that device or otherwise located away fromMGC390.

Additional dynamic displays with associated dedicated dynamic display controllers may be located elsewhere on and aboutgaming machine310, such as dynamic displays having built in dynamic display controllers atdisplay windows385 in the top box,386 above a button panel, and387 in the belly glass of the gaming machine, among other locations. Such dynamic displays may all be controlled directly by one or more dedicated dynamic display controllers that are separate from the MGC of the gaming machine, thereby reducing the overall display processing burdens that are typically placed upon the MGC (also sometimes called a “brain box” of the gaming machine). In some instances, such separate display controllers381-387 can be adapted to control their respective displays in isolation, although it is preferable that there be at least some high level form of communications between the MGC and each separate display controller, such as via a USB or other suitable connection. For example, the MGC may instruct a given display controller to provide a celebration display on one or more of its display units, whereupon the display controller has the autonomy to select and process the actual type and sequence of celebration to be displayed.

In some embodiments, there can be five, ten, or even 32 or more dynamic displays, particularly where a large number of dynamic display type buttons are used, since each individual display type button can be considered a separate dynamic display. Each dynamic display can be adapted to display a variety of still or static images, animations, video clips, “attract-mode” or other default images, diagnostic images to aid in the test and repair of various machine components, and/or any combination of the foregoing items. In some embodiments, each dynamic display can also be associated with one or more dedicated memory devices or other storage units, such that various images, animations, clips and the like can be stored at the dynamic display for ready retrieval and display with minimal processing and/or downloading of display materials being needed. Alternatively, or in addition to such storage being possible at a dynamic display device, one or more of the various dynamic display controllers can be similarly adapted to have dedicated memory or storage units that have stored static visual images, animations, video clips and/or other display materials for use with one or more respectively controlled dynamic displays.

In still further embodiments, one or more of the various dynamic display controllers can be adapted to download display materials for display on its controlled display devices and/or for storage near the dynamic display controller for ready access and use at a later time. Such downloaded materials may come fromMGC390 and/or from any other suitable outside source, such as a specialized download server or other external server associated withgaming machine310. Various arrangements for such a download server and associated gaming machines and other components distributed across a gaming network are generally known in the art, and examples of such are also provided in greater detail above with respect toFIG. 2. In some embodiments, such downloaded materials may first be provided toMGC390, upon which the materials are then relayed to the various appropriate dynamic display controllers by the MGC, such as via USB or other suitable connections.

In this manner, the MGC can be charged with accessing downloaded materials from a remote server and then distributing them to the various dynamic display controllers as may be appropriate, without then being further burdened by any display processing that may be incumbent upon the use of such downloaded materials. Although there are countless examples of how such applications might be implemented for any given gaming machine or system, a particular example might involve the use of downloadable games and the different displays that are to be used for the various button displays from game to game. For example, a card based game existing ongaming machine310 may call for buttons labeled “hold,” “drop,” “deal,” “bet” and “redraw,” among others. When a player or casino personnel might then elect to download a reel based game togaming machine310, the labels for some or all of these buttons might need to be changed and/or blacked out, in the event that fewer buttons are to be used with the new reel based game. In such an instance, theMGC390 might request the new downloaded game and a host of associated images and other applications, which could include new button labels. Such new button labels might include, for example, “spin,” “respin,” “nudge,” and “bonus bet,” among others. Upon receiving the display images for these new button labels, the MGC could then simply pass these display images along to the responsibledynamic display controller381, where such display images are then stored locally and/or provided to the individual buttons for display in association with the new game.

As in the case ofcontrollers381 and382 being combined into one control unit for two button panels, it is also contemplated that any particular dynamic display controller be adapted to control dynamic displays on disparate devices. For example, the same controller might be used to control dynamic displays on a button panel and a player tracking device, as well as a belly glass dynamic display. In such instances where multi-functional dynamic display controllers are used, it is also preferable that such controllers also be adapted to perform diagnostics checks and be able to detect which kinds of devices with which the display controller is communicating. For example, ifdynamic display controller382 were removed, belly glassdynamic display387 did not have a built in display controller, and bothbutton panel304 and belly glassdynamic display387 were connected todynamic display controller381,such controller381 is preferably adapted to poll both new devices to determine their device type and whethercontroller381 is able to support the needs of these disparate display devices. Again, it is thought that a Blackfin® type display controller device can be used for such applications.

It will be readily appreciated that the various methods and illustrative flowcharts provided herein are merely exemplary, and that the present invention may be practiced in a wide variety of suitable ways. While the provided flowcharts may be comprehensive in some respects, it will be readily understood that not every step provided is necessary, that other steps can be included, and that the order of steps might be rearranged as desired by a given manufacturer, as desired.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of manufacturing an electronic device using a flexibly configurable button panel. In particular, afterstart step400, afirst process step402 involves selecting a flexibly configurable button panel. Such a button panel can be, for example, any of the exemplary flexibly configurable button panels as described above, such asbutton panel100, for instance.Process step404 then involves electrically coupling the selected button panel to a processing unit for the electronic device. Such a processing unit could be, for example, a dynamic button panel controller, a button panel ID device, a master gaming controller, or any other suitable controller adapted for interaction with the flexible button panel. The method then continues to processstep406, where a check is made for the proper buttons, other devices and/or appropriate lack thereof being installed on the button panel in general, as well such buttons and/or devices being installed as at the proper locations or addresses along the button panel, as described above in greater detail. Such a check can also determine whether the installed buttons are functioning properly, as may be desired.

At asubsequent decision step408, an inquiry is made as to whether there are any defective, missing or otherwise improperly installed buttons or other devices on the button panel. If so, then the method moves to processstep410, where the improper button installations and/or defective buttons can be corrected. Fromstep410, the method can then revert back to step406, such that further checks can be made until there are no defects or errors in the button installations along the flexibly configurable button panel. In the event that there are indeed no such defects or errors, then the method continues to processstep412, where the physical locations of the various buttons and/or other items can be arranged with respect to each other according to a pre-designed panel configuration. Examples of such arrangements and designs are provided above inFIGS. 8A and 8B, along with the descriptions thereto. With respect to step412, a mounting support plate may be used if desired. After the physical locations of the buttons are arranged atstep412, the method then finishes atend step414. Of course, additional steps may also apply to such a manufacturing process, such as for example, plugging in or coupling individual buttons to the button panel, setting a panel ID either manually or electronically, and designing the actual button panel configuration or arrangement as it is to be installed.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of asystem1200 for increasing life of a light emitting element andFIGS. 13,14, and15 are flowcharts of a method for increasing the life by using system ofFIG. 12.FIGS. 13-15 are used to describe an embodiment of a power down procedure.

System1200 includes amain power supply1202, apower splitter1203, apower detector1204, anMGC1206, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) andpower interface1208, a plurality ofbutton assemblies1210 and1212, and a power andpower storage device1214. Button assembly130 (FIGS. 3A,3B,5A,8A,8B, and9) is an example of eachbutton assembly1210 and1212. Further, button assembly230 (FIG. 6A) is another example of eachbutton assembly1210 and1212. Each MGC190 (FIG. 9) and MGC390 (FIG. 10) is an example ofMGC1206. An example ofmain power supply1202 includes a voltage power supply supplying a voltage ranging from and including 13 V to 15 V.

Main power supply1202 supplies power to all or a majority of electrical components of gaming machine10 (FIG. 1). For example,main power supply1202 supplies power toticket validator23,video display monitor26,ticket dispenser28, one or moreadditional displays30,speakers32,card reader31, secondaryvideo display monitor35, andMGC1206.

Power detector1204 includes a low power detector1218 and apower detector memory1220.Power detector memory1220 may be a RAM. Low power detector1218 may be a processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Power andpower storage device1214 may be a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.MGC1206 connects topower detector1204 via acable1222, such as a USB cable or another serial cable, and performs primary gaming functions, such as a executing a game code to generate a game determination outcome.

Referring to FIGS.12 and13-15,main power supply1202supplies1302power1224 less than a threshold value, such as 24 V, 25 V, or 26V, to low power detector1218. The threshold value is provided by the user via an input device (not shown), such as a mouse or a keyboard, to low power detector1218. Low power detector1218 receives1304power1224 and determines1306 whetherpower1224 falls below the threshold value. As an example,power1224 falls below the threshold value at a time of power failure or other malfunction ofmain power supply1202. Upon determining thatpower1224 is less than the threshold value, low power detector1218 generates and sends1402 a powerlow signal1226 indicating thatpower1224 fell below the threshold value tobutton assemblies1210 and1212 via HDMI andpower interface1208.

Button assembly1210 receives1404 powerlow signal1226 and extends life of a light emitting element within the button assembly by executing a method for extending life of a light emitting element. Similarly,button assembly1212 receives1404 powerlow signal1226 and extends life of a light emitting element within the button assembly by executing a method for extending life of a light emitting element.

At a time power supplied bymain power supply1202 is not less than the threshold value, power andpower storage device1214 stores power, such as a portion of power supplied bymain power supply1202 or another power supply, which is not used bybutton assemblies1210 and1212, to generate stored power1228. Power andpower storage device1214 supplies1502 stored power1228 topower splitter1203.Power splitter1203 splits stored power1228 to generatesplit power1229. An example ofsplit power1229 includes power having a voltage of 13.X V. Another example ofsplit power1229 includes a power having a voltage of 14.X V. As yet another example,power splitter1203 splits stored power1228 into D volts, E volts, and F volts. Examples of D volts include 13.X volts and 14.X volts. Examples of E volts include 3.X volts and 4.X volts. Examples of F volts include a difference between storedpower1229 and a sum of D and E) volts.

Power splitter1203 supplies thesplit power1229 via HDMI andpower interface1208 at atime power1224 is less than the threshold value tobutton assemblies1210 and1212 and continues to supplysplit power1229 for a time period, such as ranging from and including 1 millisecond (ms) to 10 ms, afterpower1224 supplied bymain power supply1202 falls below the threshold value. For example,power splitter1203 supplies splitpower1229 having 14.3 V tobutton assembly1210 until an end of a 2 ms time period afterpower1224 supplied falls below 25 V. As another example,power splitter1203 supplies splitpower1229 having 14.3 V tobutton assembly1210 for at least 2 ms afterpower1224 supplied falls below 26V. Split power1229 supplied bypower splitter1203 until the time period satisfies the power requirements for operating eachbutton assembly1210 and1212.Button assemblies1210 and1212 receive1504split power1229 and operate based on thesplit power1229 until an end of the time period afterpower1224 supplied bymain power supply1202 falls below the threshold value.

In another embodiment, instead of supplying power to a majority or all electrical components of gaming machine10 (FIG. 1),main power supply1202 supplies power to specific electrical components of gaming machine10 (FIG. 1), such as,button assemblies1210 and1212. In yet another embodiment,power detector1204 includes a comparator that comparespower1224 supplied bymain power supply1202 to the threshold value to output a signal indicating whether thepower1224 is less than the threshold value. In still another embodiment, system does not include HDMI andpower interface1208.

In another embodiment, low power detector1218 stores power low information, such as a time, a date, and an amount ofpower1224, at a time at whichpower1224 is less than the threshold value. In yet another embodiment, HDMI andpower interface1208 receives powerlow signal1226 and may convert powerlow signal1226 into a differential power low signal.

In still another embodiment, a power regulator that regulates power supplied bymain power supply1202 to generate regulated power is connected betweenmain power supply1202 andpower detector1204 and betweenmain power supply1202 and power andpower storage device1214. For example, the power regulator transforms, amplifies or deamplifies, by a limited amount, power supplied bymain power supply1202 to make the power compatible with a set of power requirements of eachbutton assembly1210 and1212. As another example, the power regulator stabilizes, such as filters, power supplied bymain power supply1202 to remove noise within the power. In another embodiment,system1200 includes at least one button assembly, such as more or less than twobutton assemblies1210 and1212.Line211c(FIG. 6B) communicates powerlow signal1226 tobutton assemblies1210 and1212 (FIG. 12) and line211b(FIG. 6B) communicates splitpower1229 to the button assemblies.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of abutton assembly1602 for increasing life of alight emitting element1618 andFIG. 17 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of increasing life of a light emitting element.Button assembly1602 may be button assembly1210 (FIG. 12) or button assembly1212 (FIG. 12).Button assembly1602 includes alogic device1604, a light emitting element controller (LEC)1606, and alight emitting element1618.Light emitting element1618 may be an organic LED (OLED), an LED, a transparent OLED (TOLED), an electro luminescence (EL) element, or an LCD element. Examples oflogic device1604 include an FPGA, an ASIC, and a processor.

LEC1606 includes anLEC processor1608, anLEC memory1610, a plurality of storage devices (SDs)1612 and1614, and adisplay driver1616. An example ofdisplay driver1616 includes a transistor, such as a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) or a field effect transistor (FET), that generates a current that drives light emittingelement1618. Eachstorage device1612 and1614 may be a shift register, a latch, or a flip-flop.

LEC memory1610 includes a RAM. During the time period,logic device1604 receives1504 (FIG. 15) splitpower1229 frompower splitter1203 and supplies thesplit power1229 to light emittingelement1618 viaLEC1606.Light emitting element1618 operates, such as remains on, upon receivingsplit power1229 for the time period.LEC1606 stores a plurality of parameters, such as a voltage amount and a refresh rate, instorage devices1612 and1614. For example,LEC1606 stores the voltage amount instorage device1612 and the refresh rate instorage device1614.

LEC processor1608 provides the voltage amount at the refresh rate to displaydriver1616 anddisplay driver1616 generates an amount of current at the refresh rate to drive light emittingelement1618 at the refresh rate.LEC processor1608 generates the voltage amount and the refresh rate based on data stored withinLEC memory1610. The data stored withinLEC memory1610 corresponds to data signals received via circuit lines211d(FIG. 6B) and 211e(FIG. 6B), and is generated byMGC1206 or by button panel controller180 (FIG. 9) from primary gaming machine functions, such as functions within a game code, performed byMGC1206.

Referring toFIGS. 16 and 17, upon receiving1404 (FIG. 14)power low signal1226 frompower detector1204 during the time period,logic device1604 sends1702 acommand1620 toLEC processor1608 to change the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 to zero and the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 to zero.LEC processor1608 receives1704command1620 fromlogic device1604 during the time period and changes the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 to zero and the refresh rate to zero.LEC processor1608 changes the voltage amount and the refresh rate to zero during the time period.

LEC processor1608 provides the voltage amount, which is zero, and the refresh rate, which is also zero, to displaydriver1616 anddisplay driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 based on zero current, which is generated from the zero voltage amount at the zero refresh rate.Display driver1616 drives1706light emitting element1618 for the time period. After the time period, sincemain power supply1202 providingpower1224 is below the threshold value and stored power1228 falls below the threshold value, the power requirements for operation of light emittingelement1618 are not met and light emittingelement1618 turns off at1708.

A technical effect of the herein described systems and methods for increasing life of a light emitting element includes increasing life of light emittingelement1618. Since light emittingelement1618 turns off after notifyingLEC processor1608 and light emittingelement1618 thatpower1224 frommain power supply1202 fell below the threshold value, life of thelight element1618 is increased. The notification is provided by sendingcommand1620 to change the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 to zero and/or the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 to zero before the stored power1228 becomes insufficient to operate light emittingelement1618 and driving light emittingelement1618 based on the zero voltage amount and the zero refresh rate. The time period provides an additional time for the notification to extend life of light emittingelement1618.

In another embodiment,button assembly1602 includes more than onelight emitting element1618 to form a light emitting device. For example, light emittingelement1618 is an element of small display screen136 (FIG. 5D). In yet another embodiment that includes more than onelight emitting element1618, adisplay driver1616 including a plurality of driver circuits, such as transistors, is used instead ofdisplay driver1616 and the number of driver circuits match the number of light emitting elements.

In another embodiment,LEC1606 includes at least one storage device, such as more or less than twostorage devices1612 and1614. In yet another embodiment,LEC memory1610 includes a RAM and a read-only memory (ROM). In still another embodiment,display driver1616 is located outsideLEC1606. In yet another embodiment,logic device1604 converts data from a serial format to a parallel format.

In another embodiment, upon receiving1404 (FIG. 14)power low signal1226 frompower detector1204 during the time period,logic device1604 sends a command toLEC1606 to change the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 to zero without sending a command to change the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 to zero.LEC1606 receives the command fromlogic device1604 during the time period and changes the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 to zero.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of an embodiment of system1200 (FIG. 12) for increasing life of a light emitting element andFIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for increasing life of the light emitting element.FIG. 19 is used to describe an embodiment of a power up procedure.Main power supply1202supplies1902power1802 that is not less than the threshold value tolow power detector1216 after a condition of the power failure or other malfunction ceases to exist. For example, the condition ceases to exist after a fault inmain power supply1202 is repaired. As an example,power1802 may be 25, 26, or 27 V.Low power detector1216 receives1904power1802 frommain power supply1202 and determines1306 (FIG. 13) whether thepower1802 is not less than the threshold value. Upon determining thatpower1802 is greater than or equal to the threshold value,low power detector1216 generates and sends1906 a powernormal signal1804 indicating thatpower1802 is greater than or equal to the threshold value tobutton assemblies1210 and1212 via HDMI andpower interface1208. The powernormal signal1804 is an inverse of powerlow signal1226 and is sent via circuit line21c(FIG. 6B), which is the dedicated line.

Button assembly1210 receives1908 powernormal signal1804 and extends life of alight emitting element1618 withinbutton assembly1210 by executing a method for extending life of alight emitting element1618. Similarly,button assembly1212 receives1908 powernormal signal1804 and extends life of light emittingelement1618 withinbutton assembly1212 by executing a method for extending life of alight emitting element1618.

Power andpower storage device1214 stores1910 a portion ofpower1802, which is not used bybutton assemblies1210 and1212, to generate stored power1228.Power splitter1203 receivespower1802 frommain power supply1202 and splitspower1802 to generatesplit power1803. An example ofsplit power1803 includes power having a voltage of 13.X V. Another example ofsplit power1803 includes a power having a voltage of 14.X V. As yet another example,power splitter1203 splitspower1802 into D volts, E volts, and F volts.Power splitter1203 supplies splitpower1803 tobutton assemblies1210 and1212 (FIG. 12). For example,power splitter1203 supplies splitpower1803 having 14.3 V tobutton assembly1210. As another example,power splitter1203 supplies splitpower1803 having 14.3 V tobutton assembly1210.Button assemblies1210 and1212 receivesplit power1803 and operate1912 based on thesplit power1803.

In another embodiment, low power detector1218 stores power normal information, such as a time, a date, and an amount ofpower1802, at a time at whichpower1802 is greater than or equal to the threshold value. In yet another embodiment, HDMI andpower interface1208 receives powernormal signal1804 and may convert powernormal signal1804 into a differential power normal signal. In another embodiment, the powernormal signal1804 is sent via a different dedicated line than the dedicated line used to send powerlow signal1226. In yet another embodiment, the power up procedure ofFIG. 19 followsprocess1708 ofFIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of button assembly1602 (FIG. 16) for increasing life of a light emitting element andFIG. 21 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for increasing life of the light emitting element.Logic device1604 receives1904 (FIG. 19)power1802 frommain power supply1202 and supplies thepower1802 to light emittingelement1618 viaLEC1606.Light emitting element1618 operates upon receivingpower1802 frommain power supply1202.

Upon receiving1908 (FIG. 19) powernormal signal1804 frompower detector1204,logic device1604 sends2102 acommand2002 toLEC processor1608 to change the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 from zero to a specific voltage amount representing data stored withinLEC memory1610 and changes the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 from zero to a specific refresh rate representing data stored withinLEC memory1610.LEC processor1608 receives2104 thecommand2002 fromlogic device1604 and changes the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 from zero to the specific voltage amount representing data stored withinLEC memory1610 and the refresh rate from zero to the specific refresh rate representing data stored withinLEC memory1610.

LEC processor1608 provides a voltage to displaydriver1616 based on the specific voltage amount at the specific refresh rate, anddisplay driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 by applying a current based on the specific voltage amount at the specific refresh rate. Whendisplay driver1616 drives a light emitting device including light emittingelement1618, the light emitting device may display an advertisement or one of the primary gaming machine functions, such as hold, draw, a denomination, hit, stand, spin, of a game of chance or a game of skill. The function or advertisement may be in the form of an image, an animation, or a video. Whendisplay driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618, a current is applied to a cathode and an anode of light emittingelement1618. If light emittingelement1618 is an OLED or an LED, positive and negative charges are injected by the current applied bydisplay driver1616 are recombined in an emissive layer to generate photons. If light emittingelement1618 is an element of a liquid crystal display device, light passes through a crystal of light emittingelement1618 when no current drives thelight emitting element1618 and the light does not pass through a crystal of light emittingelement1618 when a current supplied bydisplay driver1616 drives thelight emitting element1618. After the time period, sincemain power supply1202 suppliespower1802 greater than or equal to the threshold value, the power requirements for operation of light emittingelement1618 are met and light emittingelement1618 turns on at2108.

In the other embodiment, described above, in whichlogic device1604 does not send a command to change the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 to zero, upon receiving1908 (FIG. 19) powernormal signal1804 frompower detector1204,logic device1604 sends a command toLEC processor1608 to change the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 from zero to the specific voltage amount representing data stored withinLEC memory1610 and does not send a command to change the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 from zero to the specific refresh rate.LEC processor1608 receives the command fromlogic device1604 and changes the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 from zero to the specific voltage amount.

In another embodiment, the power down procedure (FIG. 13) followsprocess2108 ofFIG. 21. In yet another embodiment, if light emittingelement1618 is an element of a liquid crystal display device, light does not pass through a crystal of light emittingelement1618 when no current drives thelight emitting element1618 and the light passes through a crystal of light emittingelement1618 when a current supplied bydisplay driver1616 drives thelight emitting element1618.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of another embodiment of asystem2200 for increasing life of a light emitting element.System2200 is similar to system1200 (FIG. 12) except thatsystem2200 includes aswitch2202 connected betweenbutton assembly1210 and power andpower storage device1214, and betweenbutton assembly1210 andmain power supply1202. An example ofswitch2202 includes a single pole, double throw switch that switches between connectingmain power supply1202 tobutton assembly1210 and power andpower storage device1214 tobutton assembly1210. Power andpower storage device1214 is charged bymain power supply1202 whenbutton assemblies1210 and1212 are not using all ofpower1802 supplied bymain power supply1202.

Upon determining that power1224 (FIG. 12) supplied bymain power supply1202 is less than the threshold value, low power detector1218 controls switch2202 to connectswitch2202 to power andpower storage device1214 and power andpower storage device1214 supplies stored power1228 topower splitter1203 during the time period.Power splitter1203 receives stored power1228 to generatesplit power1229 and suppliespower1229 tobutton assemblies1210 and1212 during the time period. On the other hand, upon determining thatpower1802 supplied bymain power supply1202 is not less than the threshold value, low power detector1218 controls switch2202 to connectmain power supply1202 topower splitter1203.Power splitter1203 receivespower1802 frommain power supply1202 to generatesplit power1803 and suppliespower1803 tobutton assemblies1210 and1212. The remaining functions ofsystem2200 are similar to those performed by system1200 (FIGS. 12 and 16).

In another embodiment, power andpower storage device1214 is charged by an auxiliary power supply, which supplies the same amount of power asmain power supply1202. In yet another embodiment, power andpower storage device1214 is replaced by the auxiliary power supply.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an embodiment of abutton assembly2302 used to increase life of a light emitting element andFIG. 24 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for increasing the life.Button assembly2302 includes all electrical components of button assembly1602 (FIG. 16) and further includes asensor2304 and asensor controller2306. An example ofsensor2304 includes a touch sensor, such as a capacitor or a resistor. Another example ofsensor2304 includes an actuator of a switch of a switch assembly. The actuator, the switch, and switch assembly are described below.Sensor2304 may be attached to top of a screen of the light emitting device or under the screen.Sensor2304 may be overlaid on a substrate on which light emittingelement1618 is formed.Sensor2304 does not generate a sensor output signal, which is an electrical signal, if thesensor2304 is not touched within a pre-defined time window. The user may touchsensor2304 directly or indirectly via a substrate. The pre-defined time window is provided by the administrator via an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, to dynamicbutton panel controller180 that further sends the pre-defined time window tosensor controller2306 and/orMGC190.

Sensor controller2306 determines2402 whethersensor2304 does not generate the sensor output signal within the pre-defined time window. Upon determining thatsensor2304 does not generate the sensor output signal within the pre-defined time window,sensor controller2306 sends2404 a no-touch signal2307 tologic device1604, which in turn may send the no-touch signal to dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180.

Upon receiving no-touch signal2307,logic device1604 inverts2406 a first intensity value of light emitted by light emittingelement1618 to generate an inverted intensity value. For example, if an intensity value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 100%,logic device1604 changes the intensity value to 0. As another example, if an intensity value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 20%,logic device1604 changes the intensity value to 80%. As yet another example, if an intensity value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 80%,logic device1604 changes the intensity value to 20%. As still another example, if an intensity value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 0,logic device1604 changes the intensity value to 100%. As another example, if an intensity value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is Q %,logic device1604 changes the intensity value to (S−Q) %, where S and Q are real numbers greater than zero, S is greater than Q, S is a maximum intensity value, and (S−Q) % is the inverted intensity value. An example of S is 100.

Logic device1604 inverts2406 the first intensity value by instructingLEC processor1608 to change a first voltage amount stored withinstorage device1612. For example, if the first voltage amount that generates the first intensity value is equal to R % of a maximum voltage amount used to represent the data stored withinLEC memory1610 at the maximum intensity value,logic device1604 instructsLEC processor1608 to change the first voltage amount to (S−R) % to generate an inverted first voltage amount, where S is greater than R and R is a real number greater than zero. The maximum voltage amount may be a voltage when power1802 (FIG. 18) is used at a maximum level by light emittingelement1618.LEC processor1608 sends the inverted first voltage amount to displaydriver1616.Display driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 with a current based on the inverted first voltage amount and light emittingelement1618 emits light having the inverted intensity value.

Logic device1604 reduces2412 the inverted intensity value by a fixed percentage, such as ranging from and including 40% to 60%, by instructingLEC processor1608 to reduce the inverted intensity value by the fixed percentage. An example of the fixed percentage includes 50%.Logic device1604 reduces2412 the inverted intensity value by the fixed percentage to generate a reduced intensity value. Upon receiving the instruction to reduce the inverted intensity value by the fixed percentage,LEC processor1608 reduces the inverted first voltage amount to satisfy a linear relation. For example, the linear relation is represented by Y=aT+b, where a and b are real numbers and T and Y are variables, T represents the inverted intensity value, and Y represents the inverted first voltage amount. In this example, upon determining that T is reduced by 20%,LEC processor1608 reduces Y to keep a and b constant and to generate a reduced first voltage amount that is store withinstorage device1612.Display driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 with a current based on the reduced first voltage amount and light emittingelement1618 emits light having the reduced intensity value.

Ifsensor2304 is touched after not being touched within the pre-defined time window,sensor2304 sends2414 the sensor output signal tosensor controller2306. Upon receiving the sensor output signal,sensor controller2306 generates atouch signal2310 and sends thetouch signal2310 tologic device1604, which may send thetouch signal2310 to dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180. Upon receivingtouch signal2310,logic device1604 restores2416 the first intensity value by instructingLEC processor1608 to restore2416 the first intensity value. Upon receiving the instruction to restore the first intensity value,LEC processor1608 changes the reduced first voltage amount to the first voltage amount withinstorage device1612 and provides the first voltage amount to displaydriver1616.Display driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 by applying a current based on the first voltage amount and light emittingelement1618 emits light having the first intensity value.

If the method illustrated inFIG. 24 is executed for a first time and the sensor output signal is received bysensor controller2306, instead of restoring at2416,logic device1604 maintains the first intensity value by instructingLEC processor1608 to maintain the first intensity value. Upon receiving the instruction to maintain the first intensity value,LEC processor1608 maintains the first voltage amount withinstorage device1612. Upon maintaining the first intensity value, the method returns to process2402.

In another embodiment, functions performed bysensor controller2306 can be instead performed byLEC processor1608,logic device1604, or dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180, or by a combination of at least two oflogic device1604,LEC processor1608,sensor controller2306, and dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180. In another embodiment, functions performed bylogic device1604 can be performed byMGC190, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180,LEC processor1608, or by a combination of at least two of dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180,MGC190,logic device1604, andLEC processor1608. In still another embodiment, the pre-defined time window is provided by the administrator via an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, directly tosensor controller2306. In yet another embodiment, the pre-defined time window is provided by the administrator via an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, directly toMGC190.

In yet another embodiment,MGC190 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has not changed to another game state within the pre-defined time window and sends a signal to indicate the determination tologic device1604. In this embodiment, upon receiving the signal indicating the determination of the lack of the change of the game of state fromMGC190,logic device1604 inverts2406 the first intensity value and further reduces2412 the inverted intensity value. For example,logic device1604 inverts2406 the first intensity value by changing the first voltage amount stored withinstorage device1612. As another example,logic device1604 reduces2412 the inverted intensity value by the fixed percentage by reducing the inverted first voltage amount and generating the reduced first voltage amount. In this embodiment,MGC190 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has changed to another game state and sends a signal, such as an animation or a specific command, to indicate the determination tologic device1604. Upon receiving the signal indicating the change of the game of state,logic device1604 restores2416 the first intensity value. For example,logic device1604 restores2416 the first intensity value by changing the reduced first voltage amount to the first voltage amount withinstorage device1612.

In another embodiment, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has not changed to another game state within the pre-defined time window. In this embodiment, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 may have lost connection withMGC190. Further, in this embodiment, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has changed to another game state.

In yet another embodiment,logic device1604 performs2406,2412,2414, and2416 without instructingLEC processor1608. For example,logic device1604 inverts2406 the first intensity value by changing the first voltage amount stored withinstorage device1612. As another example,logic device1604 reduces2412 the inverted intensity value by the fixed percentage by reducing the inverted first voltage amount and generating the reduced first voltage amount. As still another example,logic device1604 restores2416 the first intensity value by changing the reduced first voltage amount to the first voltage amount.

In still another embodiment,MGC190 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has not changed to another game state within the pre-defined time window and sends a signal to indicate the determination to dynamicbutton panel controller180. In this embodiment, upon receiving the signal indicating the determination of the lack of change fromMGC190, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180inverts2406 and further performs2412. For example, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180inverts2406 the first intensity value by changing the first voltage amount stored within a storage device. As another example, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 reduces2412 the inverted intensity value by the fixed percentage by reducing the inverted first voltage amount and generating the reduced first voltage amount within a storage device. In this embodiment,MGC190 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has changed to another game state and sends a signal, such as an animation or another command, to indicate the determination to dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180. Upon receiving the signal indicating the change of the game of state, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 restores2416 the first intensity value. For example, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 restores2416 the first intensity value by changing the reduced first voltage amount to the first voltage amount within a storage device. Further, in this embodiment, if the method illustrated inFIG. 24 is executed for a first time and the determination regarding the lack of change of game state is received within the pre-defined time window, instead of restoring at2416, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 maintains the first intensity value by maintaining the first voltage amount within a storage device. Further in this embodiment, upon maintaining the first intensity value, the method returns to process2402. In another alternative embodiment,logic device1604 and/orLEC1602 are located outsidebutton assembly2302.

It is noted that the functions illustrated inFIGS. 13,14,15,17,19,21, and24 may be performed sequentially, in parallel, or in an order other than that which is described. It should be appreciated that not all of the functions described are required to be performed, that additional functions may be added, and that some of the illustrated functions may be substituted with other functions.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of another embodiment of abutton assembly2500 for increasing life of a light emitting element.Button assembly2500 includes all components of button assembly2302 (FIG. 23).Button assembly2500 further includes apower sensor2502 and an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter)2504.Power sensor2502 may be a voltage sensor that determines a voltage of a current used to drive light emittingelement1618.Power sensor2502 determines a voltage of a current used to drive light emittingelement1618 to generate a first measured value of the voltage and sends the first measured value to A/D converter2504. A/D converter2504 converts the first measured value into a digital form and provides the first measured value in the digital form toLEC processor1608.LEC processor1608 receives the first measured value and stores the first measured value withinLEC memory1610.

In this embodiment ofsystem2500, processes2402 and2404 (FIG. 24) are performed. Upon receiving no-touch signal2307,logic device1604 performs process2406 (FIG. 24) by using the first measured value instead of the first intensity value. For example,logic device1604 inverts the first measured value of light emitted by light emittingelement1618 to generate an inverted measured value. For example, if a measured value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 100%,logic device1604 changes the measured value to 0, which is the inverted measured value. As another example, if a measured value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 20%,logic device1604 changes the measured value to 80%. As yet another example, if a measured value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 80%,logic device1604 changes the measured value to 20%. As still another example, if a measured value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is 0,logic device1604 changes the measured value to 100%. As another example, if a measured value of intensity of light emittingelement1618 is M %,logic device1604 changes the measured value to (S−M) %, where M is a real numbers greater than zero, S is greater than M, and (S−M) % is the inverted measured value.

Logic device1604 inverts the first measured value by instructingLEC processor1608 to invert the first measured value. Upon receiving the instruction to invert the first measured value,LEC processor1608 changes a second voltage amount stored withinstorage device1612. For example, if the second voltage amount that generates the first measured value is equal to P % of the maximum voltage amount,LEC processor1608 changes the second voltage amount to (S−P) % to generate an inverted second voltage amount, where S is greater than P and P is a real number greater than zero.LEC processor1608 sends the inverted second voltage amount to displaydriver1616.Display driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 with a current based on the inverted second voltage amount and light emittingelement1618 emits light having the inverted measured value.

Moreover, in this embodiment,logic device1604 performs2412 (FIG. 24) by using the first measured value instead of the first intensity value. For example,logic device1604 reduces the inverted measured value by the fixed percentage to generate a reduced measured value by instructingLEC processor1608 to reduce the inverted measured value by the fixed percentage. Upon receiving the instruction to reduce the inverted measured value by the fixed percentage,LEC processor1608 reduces the inverted second voltage amount to satisfy the linear relation to generate a reduced second voltage amount.Display driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 with a current based on the reduced second voltage amount and light emittingelement1618 emits light having the reduced measured value.

In this embodiment ofsystem2500,process2414 is (FIG. 24) performed. Moreover, in this embodiment,logic device1604 performs2416 (FIG. 24) by using the first measured value instead of the first intensity value. For example, upon receivingtouch signal2310,logic device1604 restores the first measured value by instructingLEC processor1608 to restore the first measured value,LEC processor1608 changes the reduced second voltage amount to the second voltage amount withinstorage device1612 and provides the second voltage amount to displaydriver1616.Display driver1616 drives light emittingelement1618 by applying a current based on the second voltage amount and light emittingelement1618 emits light having the first measured value.

If the method illustrated by using the system ofFIG. 25 is executed for a first time and the sensor output signal is received bysensor controller2306, instead of restoring the first measured value,logic device1604 maintains the first measured value by instructingLEC processor1608 to maintain the first measured value. Upon receiving the instruction to maintain the first measured value,LEC processor1608 maintains the second voltage amount withinstorage device1612. In another embodiment, upon receiving the first measured value,LEC processor1608 does not store the first measured value withinLEC memory1610.

An occurrence of an event may be a change of a game state or touching of a button by the user. For example, if the button is touched by the user, the event occurs and the if the button is not touched, the event does not occur. As another example, if the game state changes to another game state, the event occurs and if the game state does not change, the event does not occur.

In another embodiment, upon receiving the signal indicating the determination of the lack of the change of the game of state within the pre-defined time window fromMGC190,logic device1604 inverts the first measured value by changing the second voltage amount stored withinstorage device1612. As another example,logic device1604 reduces the inverted measured value by the fixed percentage by reducing the inverted second voltage amount to generate the reduced second voltage amount. In this embodiment,MGC190 determines that a game state of a game of chance or a game of skill has changed to another game state and sends a signal, such as an animation or a specific command, to indicate the determination tologic device1604. Upon receiving the signal indicating the change of the game of state,logic device1604 restores the first measured value. For example,logic device1604 restores the first measured value by changing the reduced second voltage amount to the second voltage amount withinstorage device1612.

In yet another embodiment,logic device1604 performs2406,2412,2414, and2416 without instructingLEC processor1608 and by using the first measured value instead of the first intensity value. For example,logic device1604 inverts the first measured value by changing the second voltage amount stored withinstorage device1612. As another example,logic device1604 reduces the inverted measured value by the fixed percentage by reducing the inverted second voltage amount and generating the reduced second voltage amount. As still another example,logic device1604 restores the second intensity value by changing the reduced second voltage amount to the second voltage amount.

In still another embodiment, upon receiving the signal indicating the determination of the lack of change within the pre-defined time window fromMGC190, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180inverts2406 and further performs2412 by using the first measured value instead of the first intensity value. For example, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 inverts the first measured value by changing the second voltage amount stored within a storage device. As another example, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 reduces the inverted measured value by the fixed percentage by reducing the inverted second voltage amount and generating the reduced second voltage amount within a storage device. In this embodiment, upon receiving the signal indicating the change of the game of state fromMGC190, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 restores the first measured value. For example, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 restores the first measured value by changing the reduced second voltage amount to the second voltage amount within a storage device. Further, in this embodiment, if the method illustrated inFIG. 24 is executed for a first time and the determination regarding the lack of change of game state is received within the pre-defined time window, instead of restoring the first measured value, dedicated dynamicbutton panel controller180 maintains the second intensity value by maintaining the second voltage amount within a storage device. Further in this embodiment, upon maintaining the first measured value, the method returns to process2402.

FIG. 26A is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a plurality of intensities represented by a plurality ofpixels2602 and2604, which are in a non-idle mode.Pixel2602 has been used for a longer time than pixel2604. The intensity ofpixel2602 starts reducing after being used for the longer time as evident by awhite box2606 within ablack box2608 of the pixel. Further,pixel2602 generates a ghosting effect in pixel2604 as evident by agray box2610 within pixel2604.

FIG. 26B is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an intensity represented by apixel2612, which can be2602 or pixel2604 (FIG. 26A), in a screen saver mode, such as an idle mode, after applying the method illustrated by usingFIGS. 23-25.Pixel2612 may include light emittingelement1618.

A technical effect of the herein described systems and methods includes increasing life of a light emitting element within a pixel by dimming an intensity of the pixel and includes reducing the ghosting effect by inverting the intensity. The dimming is performed by reducing an intensity of light emittingelement1618. Further, a uniform image is displayed by a light emitting device including light emittingelement1618 by inverting an intensity of light emitting by light emittingelement1618.

FIGS. 27A and 27B are an isometric exploded view of an embodiment of abutton assembly2702,FIG. 28A is an isometric view of an embodiment of alens cap2704 ofbutton assembly2702,FIG. 28B is a front view of thelens cap2704,FIG. 29 is an isometric view of another embodiment of alens cap2902,FIG. 30 is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of alens cap3002,FIG. 31A is an isometric view of an embodiment of a portion of lens cap2704 (FIG. 27A) and an embodiment of a portion of alens cap holder2706.FIG. 31B is a front view of an embodiment of thelens cap2704 andlens cap holder2706 andFIG. 31C is a side view of an embodiment of thelens cap2704 andlens cap holder2706.FIG. 32A is an isometricsectional view3202 and an explodedview3204 of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702.

FIG. 32B is an isometric view of an embodiment oflens cap holder2706.FIG. 32C shows an isometric of an embodiment of aswitch assembly2716 ofbutton assembly2702.FIG. 33A is an isometric view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702,FIG. 33B is an isometric sectional view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702, andFIG. 33C is another isometric view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702 andFIG. 33D is yet another isometric view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702.FIG. 33E is a front view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702.FIG. 33F is an isometric partially assembled view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702.FIG. 34 is a front view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702.Button assembly2702 is an example of any ofbutton assemblies1210 and1212 (FIG. 12).

FIG. 35A is a top view of button assembly2702 (FIG. 26) as assembled, andFIG. 35B is a front view of button assembly2702 (FIG. 26) as assembled.FIG. 35C is a view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702 as implemented within gaming machine10 (FIG. 1).

Button assembly includeslens cap2704, a light emittingdevice assembly2708,lens cap holder2706, aspring2710, abutton housing2712, adigital interconnect board2714,switch assembly2716, abutton mating component2718, acontroller board2720, agasket2722, aclamp2724, and anut2726.Button mating component2718 is an example of button mating component131 (FIGS. 3B and 4). A button includes a lens cap.

Lens cap2704 is made of plastic, which is transparent or translucent.Lens cap2704 is hollow and includes acap cavity2728.Lens cap2704 further includes atop cap surface2730, afirst cap side2732, asecond cap side2734 attached tofirst cap side2732, athird cap side2736 attached tosecond cap side2734, and afourth cap side2738 attached tothird cap side2736 and tofirst cap side2732. As shown inFIG. 28A,first cap side2732 has a firstlower portion2740,second cap side2734 has a secondlower portion2742,third cap side2736 has a thirdlower portion2744, andfourth cap side2738 has a fourthlower portion2746.Top cap surface2730 is attached tofirst cap side2732,second cap side2734,third cap side2736, andfourth cap side2738.Second cap side2734 includes asnap submitting member2748 andfourth cap side2738 includes another snap submitting member2750 (shown inFIG. 28A).

As shown inFIG. 28A, aplane2802 passes throughlower portions2740,2742,2744, and2746.Plane2802 is perpendicular to thefirst cap side2732,second cap side2734,third cap side2736, andfourth cap side2738. Eachcap side2732,2734,2836, and2738 has the same length as measured parallel to a y-axis. For example, a length, parallel to the y-axis, offirst cap side2732 is equal to a length, parallel to the y-axis, ofsecond cap side2734. Aperpendicular distance2804 between a point2806 onplane2802 and apoint2808 ontop cap surface2730 is different, such as less than, aperpendicular distance2810 between apoint2812 onplane2802 and apoint2814 ontop cap surface2730.Top cap surface2730 is symmetrical in all directions, including x, y, and z directions, with respect to acenter line2816 passing through acenter2818 oftop cap surface2730.Top cap surface2730 is curved. For example,top cap surface2730 is dome-shaped. As another example,top cap surface2730 has a radius of curvature ranging from and including 3 inches to 7 inches. As another example,top cap surface2730 has a curved cross-section along Z1-Z1.

Referring back toFIG. 27A,lens cap holder2706 further includes afirst holder side2752, asecond holder side2754 attached tofirst holder side2752, athird holder side2756 attached tosecond holder side2754, and afourth holder side2758 attached tothird holder side2756 and tofirst holder side2752.Lens cap holder2706 is hollow and includes aholder cavity2760.

Lens cap holder2706 is made from a non-conducting material, such as plastic, wood, or rubber. Referring toFIG. 32B,lens cap holder2706 includes a plurality ofholder legs2762,2764,2766, and2768, and anactuator arm2769.Actuator arm2769 extends fromholder leg2768

Moreover, referring back toFIG. 27A,lens cap holder2706 includes a plurality ofsnap receiving members2770 and2772. Snap receivingmember2770 is a part ofsecond holder side2754 andsnap receiving member2772 is a part offourth holder side2758. The number ofsnap receiving members2770 and2772 are the same as the number ofsnap submitting members2748 and2750.

Light emittingdevice assembly2708 includes alight emitting device2774 attached, such as soldered, to aframe2776.Frame2776 has a plurality ofdevice assembly legs2778,2780,2782, and2784.Light emitting device2774 may be an OLED display device, an LED display device, an LCD display device, or an electroluminescence (EL) display device. An example of light emittingdevice2774 includes small display screen136 (FIG. 5D). Another example of light emittingdevice2774 includes a plurality of light emitting elements including light emitting element1618 (FIG. 16).Frame2776 is fabricated from the non-conducting material. Eachdevice assembly leg2778,2780,2782, and2784 has a hook.

Spring2710 is fabricated from plastic or metal.Button housing2712 includes afirst housing portion2786 and asecond housing portion2788.First housing portion2786 has afirst portion cavity2747.First housing portion2786 has a polygonal cross-section, such as a square or a rectangular cross-section, along Z2-Z2.Second housing portion2788 has a curved, such as a circular or elliptical, cross-section along Z3-Z3. As shown inFIG. 34,second housing portion2788 extends in a direction opposite to the y direction beyondcontroller board2720 to form anextension3402 and theextension3402 reduces a chance of a liquid, such as water, soda, or a drink, from entering from outsidesecond housing portion2788 to within a second portion cavity2790 (FIG. 27A) ofsecond housing portion2788. If the liquid enters from outsidesecond portion cavity2790 to withinsecond portion cavity2790, the liquid may damagebutton mating component2718 and/or cable connector120 (FIGS. 3A,3B, and4).

Referring back toFIG. 27A,first housing portion2786 includes afirst housing side2792, asecond housing side2794 attached to thefirst housing side2792, athird housing side2796 attached to thesecond housing side2794, and a fourth housing side2798 attached to the third and first housing sides.First housing side2792 includes afirst housing notch2701,second housing side2794 includes asecond housing notch2703,third housing side2796 includes athird housing notch2705, and fourth housing side2798 includes afourth housing notch2707.First housing notch2701 extends throughfirst housing side2792,second housing notch2703 extends throughsecond housing side2794,third housing notch2705 extends throughthird housing side2796, andfourth housing notch2707 extends through fourth housing side2798.

A housing notch has a curved shape, a polygonal shape, or a combination of the curved and polygonal shapes. For example, eachhousing notch2701 and2705 has a combination of a curved and polygonal shape as viewed in the z direction, and eachhousing notch2703 and2707 has a combination of a curved and polygonal shape as viewed in the x direction.

Second housing portion2788 includes a plurality of threads on anouter surface2709 of the portion.First housing portion2786 is attached or integrally formed withsecond housing portion2788.Digital interconnect board2714, such as a printed circuit board (PCB), includes a plurality of digital interconnects and is attached tobutton housing2712.

Referring toFIG. 27B,controller board2720, such as a PCB, includes a plurality ofboard notches2711 and2713.Board notch2713 is not visible inFIG. 27B.Switch assembly2716 includes a switch2763 (FIG. 32C) and a switch housing2715 (FIG. 32C) for theswitch2763.Switch housing2715 is fabricated from the non-conducting material.Switch2763 ofswitch assembly2716 has anactuator2717.Switch housing2715 includes a plurality ofswitch assembly prongs2719 and2721.Switch assembly prong2721 is not visible inFIG. 27B.Switch assembly prong2719 extends throughboard notch2711 and switchassembly prong2721 extends throughboard notch2713 to fitswitch assembly2716 withcontroller board2720.Button mating component2718 is electrically connected tocontroller board2720 andcontroller board2720 includes LEC1606 (FIGS. 16 and 20) and logic device1604 (FIGS. 16 and 20).

Gasket2722 is made of a flexible material, such as rubber or plastic.Clamp2724 includes afirst clamp side2723, asecond clamp side2725, athird clamp side2727, and afourth clamp side2729.Clamp2724 is fabricated from the non-conducting material.Second clamp side2725 is attached tofirst clamp side2723,third clamp side2727 is attached tosecond clamp side2725, andfourth clamp side2729 is attached to the third clamp side and the first clamp side.First clamp side2723 includes afirst clamp notch2731,second clamp side2725 includes asecond clamp notch2733,third clamp side2727 includes athird clamp notch2735, andfourth clamp side2729 includes afourth clamp notch2737.First clamp notch2731 extends throughfirst clamp side2723,second clamp notch2733 extends throughsecond clamp side2725,third clamp notch2735 extends throughthird clamp side2727, andfourth clamp notch2737 extends throughfourth clamp side2729.

Eachclamp2724 notch has a combination of straight and curved cross-sections. For example, as viewed in the z direction, each offirst clamp notch2731 andthird clamp notch2735 has a combination of a curved cross-section and a straight cross-section. As another example, as viewed in the x direction, each ofsecond clamp notch2733 andfourth clamp notch2737 has a combination of a curved cross-section and straight cross-section.Clamp2724 includes a plurality ofclamp openings2739,2761,2765, and2767 (FIG. 33D).

Nut2726 is fabricated from the non-conducting material and includes a plurality of threads.Lens cap2704,frame2776,lens cap holder2706,button housing2712, switchhousing2715,clamp2724, andnut2726 may be fabricated by a molding or extrusion process. For example, a mold having a cavity of the shape ofbutton housing2712 is used to fabricatebutton housing2712 by pouring the non-conducting material into the mold cavity and heating and then cooling the material. As shown inFIG. 34,extension3402 is formed betweencontroller board2720 and abottom surface3404 ofnut2726.Extension3402 ofnut2726 reduces a chance of the liquid that exits from at least one ofnotches2701,2703,2705,2707,2731,2733,2735, and2737 from entering fromoutside nut2726 toinside nut2726. If the liquid enters fromoutside nut2726 toinside nut2726 via capillary action, the liquid may damagebutton mating component2718 and/or cable connector120 (FIGS. 3A,3B, and4).

Referring back toFIG. 27A, light emittingdevice assembly2708 is attached tolens cap holder2706 via the hooks ofassembly legs2778,2780,2782, and2784. Snap submittingmember2748 snaps withsnap receiving member2770 andsnap submitting member2750 snaps withsnap receiving member2772 to attachlens cap2704 tolens cap holder2706. Whenlens cap2704 is attached tolens cap holder2706,lens cap2704 extends belowlens cap holder2706 to from anextended portion3102, shown inFIGS. 31A,31B, and31C. For example, as shown inFIG. 31, alower portion3104 includingportions2740,2742,2744, and2746 oflens cap2704, as seen in a direction opposite to the y direction, extends below abottom portion2741 oflens cap holder2706 to formextended portion3102. Theextended portion3102 prevents the liquid accidentally spilled by the user from entering fromoutside lens cap2704 to inside, such as within,cap cavity2728 and inside, such as within,holder cavity2760.

ReferringFIG. 33F,spring2710 surrounds, such as encircles, a raisedinside edge2781 ofbutton housing2712, andspring2710 abuts against abottom surface2743 offirst housing portion2786 and abuts against abottom surface2745 oflens cap holder2706.Spring2710 does not extend withinsecond portion cavity2790 ofsecond housing portion2788.Holder legs2762,2764,2766, and2768 are received withinbutton housing2712, at least a portion of light emittingdevice assembly2708 is received withinlens cap holder2706, and at least a portion oflens cap holder2706 is received withinbutton housing2712.Switch assembly2716 is received withinsecond portion cavity2790 ofsecond housing portion2788 andcontroller board2720 are received withinsecond portion cavity2790.Holder legs2762,2764,2766, and2768 are received withinsecond housing portion2788 to stabilizelens cap holder2706 aslens cap holder2706 moves up and down to preventbutton assembly2702 from tilting.

When the user presseslens cap2704 to press the button,lens cap holder2706 presses againstspring2710, the pressure creates tension betweenlens cap holder2706 andbutton housing2712, andactuator arm2768 reaches actuator2717 (FIG. 33E) to turn onswitch2763 withinswitch assembly2716. Further, when the user releaseslens cap2704 to release the button,lens cap holder2706 releases spring2710 from tension, andactuator arm2768 looses contact withactuator2717 to turn offswitch2763 withinswitch assembly2716.

A technical effect of a top cap surface having at least a curved portion is that the user may press or hit hard against thetop cap surface2730. An increase in a perpendicular distance between a top cap surface and light emittingdevice2774 protects light emittingdevice2774 from being damaged by the hard press or hard hit. For example, without the increase in perpendicular distance, the hard press or hard hit may damage light emittingdevice2774. An example of the increase in the perpendicular distance is a difference betweenperpendicular distances2810 and2804. Moreover, another technical effect of a top cap surface that is curved is that the top cap surface creates a lower magnification than that created by a straight surface of a lens cap. The convexity of a top cap surface in the y-direction converges rays that reach an eye of the user to reduce magnification than that created by the straight surface of the lens cap.

Another technical effect of the herein described housing notches includes providing a plurality of openings from the liquid to be able to flow from insidefirst portion cavity2747 and/orsecond portion cavity2790 tooutside button housing2712. For example, spilled water or another drink that entersfirst portion cavity2747 and/orsecond portion cavity2790 can exit from housing cavity tooutside button housing2712 via at least one offirst housing notch2701,second housing notch2703,third housing notch2705, andfourth housing notch2707. The exit of the liquid protectscontroller board2720,switch assembly2716,button mating component2718, and cable connector120 (FIGS. 3A,3B, and4) that is electrically connected tobutton mating component2718.

Yet another technical effect ofextended portion3102 includes reducing chances of a capillary action of the liquid to prevent the liquid from entering intobutton assembly2702. Withoutextended portion3102, the liquid may enter insidebutton assembly2702 and cause damage tocontroller board2720 and/or light emittingdevice2774. Another technical effect of the herein describedclamp openings2739,2761,2765, and2767 includes providing openings to allow the liquid to drain from withinbutton assembly2702 tooutside button assembly2702.

As shown inFIG. 32A,gasket2722 is fitted aroundsecond housing portion2788.Gasket2722 abuts against abottom clamp surface2751 and againstfirst housing portion2786. A technical effect ofgasket2722 includes reducing chances of the liquid from entering fromoutside button assembly2702 intobutton assembly2702. For example,gasket2722 prevents spilled water or soda from traveling down the threads ofsecond housing portion2788 and entering insidebutton mating component2718 fromoutside button assembly2702. Further,gasket2722 also reduces chances of the liquid from traveling down the threads ofsecond housing portion2788 and entering fromoutside button assembly2702 to within cable connector120 (FIGS. 3A,3B, and4). Moreover,gasket2722 reduces chances of the liquid from entering intocable connector120 orbutton mating component2718 fromfirst portion cavity2747 orclamp cavity2771.

Referring toFIGS. 27A and 27B,clamp2724 is placed overbutton housing2712 to surround a portion of thefirst housing portion2786. For example,clamp2724 surroundsfirst housing portion2786 except abezel3206 ofbutton housing2712. Upon surrounding the portion offirst housing portion2786 withclamp2724,first clamp side2723 is adjacent tofirst housing side2792,second clamp side2725 is adjacent tosecond housing side2794,third clamp side2727 is adjacent tothird housing side2796, andfourth clamp side2729 is adjacent to fourth housing side2798. Further, upon surrounding the portion offirst housing portion2786 withclamp2724first clamp notch2731 is adjacent tofirst housing notch2701,second clamp notch2733 is adjacent tosecond housing notch2703,third clamp notch2735 is adjacent tothird housing notch2705, andfourth clamp notch2737 is adjacent tofourth housing notch2707.

A technical effect of the herein describes clamp notches includes providing a plurality of openings for the liquid to be able to flow frominside button housing2712 and/orclamp2724 tooutside button assembly2702. For example, spilled water or soda that entersfirst portion cavity2747 can exit tooutside button assembly2702 viafirst housing notch2701 andfirst clamp notch2731,second housing notch2703 andsecond clamp notch2733,third housing notch2705 andthird clamp notch2735, and/orfourth housing notch2707 andfourth clamp notch2737. As another example, spilled drink that enters aclamp cavity2771 exits fromclamp cavity2771 to outside button assembly via at least one offirst clamp notch2731,second clamp notch2733,third clamp notch2735, andfourth clamp notch2737.

Whenbutton assembly2702 is assembled,second housing portion2788 extends through aclamp opening2749 within abottom clamp surface2751. The threads ofnut2726 are mated with the threads ofsecond housing portion2788 to attachclamp2724 withbutton housing2712 and assemblebutton assembly2702. As shown inFIG. 35C,button assembly2702 is held with respect topanel71 bybezel3206 located on a top surface ofpanel71 and byclamp2724 andnut2726 located below a bottom surface ofpanel71.Button assembly2702 is held in place with respect topanel71 whenclamp2724 applies upward pressure towardsbezel3206 andclamp2724 applies the upward pressure when the threads ofnut2726 are mated with the threads ofsecond housing portion2788.

When the user presseslens cap2704,actuator arm2768 presses actuator2717 (shown inFIG. 33E), and the actuator actuates theswitch2763 ofswitch assembly2716.Switch2763 ofswitch assembly2716 generates an actuation signal that is received byLEC processor1608.LEC processor1608 sends, via the digital interconnects, the voltage amount withinstorage device1612 and the refresh rate withinstorage device1614 to light emittingdevice2774 to display an image on light emittingdevice2774.

In another embodiment,first cap side2732,second cap side2734,third cap side2736, andfourth cap side2738, andtop cap surface2730 are integrally formed into a single piece. In yet another embodiment,lens cap2704 includes at least one snap submitting member, such as one, three, or five snap submitting members formed on any of cap sides. In still another embodiment,lens cap holder2706 includes at least one snap receiving member, such as three or four snap receiving members. In another embodiment, a button includes sensor2304 (FIG. 23).

In still another embodiment,frame2776 may have at least one device assembly leg, such as more or less that four device assembly legs. In yet another embodiment, not all device assembly legs include a hook.

In yet another embodiment,lens cap holder2706 includes at least one holder leg, such as more or less than four holder legs. In another embodiment,top cap surface2730 is asymmetrical in at least one of the x, y, and z directions with respect tocenter line2816. In another embodiment,clamp2724 includes more or less than fourclamp openings2739,2761,2765, and2767.

In yet another embodiment, a top cap surface has a straight cross-section along Z1-Z1. An example of this embodiment is shown inFIG. 29.Lens cap2902 includes acavity2904 and atop cap surface2906 that includes a plurality ofpolygonal portions2908,2910, and2912, and a cross-section of eachpolygonal portion2908,2910, and2912 oftop cap surface2906 along Z1-Z1 is straight.Top cap surface2906 is made from the same material as top cap surface2730 (FIG. 27A). In another embodiment,top cap surface2906 is made of at least one polygonal portion. In still another embodiment, a top cap surface has a combination of curved and straight cross-sections along Z1-Z1. An example of this embodiment is shown inFIG. 30.Lens cap3002 includes acavity3004 and atop cap surface3006 that includes a plurality ofpolygonal portions3008 and3010, and acurved portion3012. A cross-section of eachpolygonal portion3008 and3010 along Z1-Z1 is straight and a cross-section ofcurved portion3012 is curved along Z1-Z1.

In another embodiment,housing sides2792,2794,2796, and2798 are integrally formed into a single piece. In yet another embodiment, not allhousing sides2792,2794,2796, and2798 include a housing notch. For example,housing side2794 does not includehousing notch2703 andhousing side2796 does not includehousing notch2705. As another example,housing side2796 does not includehousing notch2705. In still another embodiment, at least one housing notch offirst housing portion2786 is different in shape than the remaining housing notches offirst housing portion2786. In another embodiment at least two ofhousing notches2701,2703,2705, and2707 have the same shape. In another embodiment, a housing side includes more than one housing notch. For example,second housing side2794 includes two housing notches of the same shape or of different shapes. As another example,second housing side2794 includes three housing notches of the same or different shapes.

In another embodiment, at least one ofclamp notches2731,2733,2735, and2737 is different in size than the remaining of the clamp notches. In another embodiment at least two ofclamp notches2731,2733,2735, and2737 have the same shape. In still another embodiment, any ofclamp notches2731,2733,2735, and2737 has a curved cross-section without having a straight cross-section. In yet another embodiment, any ofclamp notches2731,2733,2735, and2737 has a straight cross-section without having a curved cross-section or has a curved cross-section without having a straight cross-section. In another embodiment,nut2726 is fabricated from a conducting material, such as metal. In yet another embodiment,plane2802 is not perpendicular to thefirst cap side2732,second cap side2734,third cap side2736, and/orfourth cap side2738.

FIG. 36A is an isometric view of an embodiment ofbutton assembly2702 fitted withflexible cable110 andFIG. 36B is a top view of theflexible cable110.Button assembly2702 includesbutton mating component2718 andprongs2719 and2721.Button mating component2718 andprongs2719 and2721 extend outsidesecond portion cavity2790 andclamp cavity2771.Button mating component2718 is connected tocable connector120 attached toflexible cable110.

Cable connector120 is attached, such as soldered or screwed, toflexible cable110.Flexible cable110 includes a plurality ofcable openings3504 and3506. The number ofcable openings3504 and3506 is the same as the number ofprongs2719 and2721.Prong2719 is received withincable opening3504 and extends throughcable opening3504.Prong2721 is received withincable opening3506 and extends throughcable opening3506.Prongs2719 and2721 are pushed towards each other to extend the prongs throughrespective cable openings3504 and3506. Onceprongs2719 and2721 extend throughrespective cable openings3504 and3506, the prongs are released from the push. Upon release,prongs2719 and2721 push away from each other. Onceprongs2719 and2721 push away from each other andbutton mating component2718 is mated with cable connector120 (FIGS. 3A,3B, and4),button assembly2702 is fitted withflexible cable110.Button assembly2702 is detached fromflexible cable110 by detachingcable connector120 frombutton mating component2718, pushingprongs2719 and2721 towards each other, and pullingprongs2719 and2721 out ofrespective cable openings3504 and3506.

A technical effect of the herein describedprongs2719 and2721 is that extension ofprongs2719 and2721 throughrespective cable openings3504 and3506 provides additional support tobutton assembly2702 to that provided by matingbutton mating component2718 withcable connector120 and reduces a chance ofbutton assembly2702 from detaching fromcable connector120 andflexible cable110. In another embodiment,flexible cable110 includes at least one cable opening, such as more than two cable openings.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be recognized that the above described invention may be embodied in numerous other specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Certain changes and modifications may be practiced, and it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing details, but rather is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (33)

1. A button assembly comprising:

a light emitting device configured to emit light;

a lens cap configured to protect the light emitting device from being damaged;

the lens cap having a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side;

the second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane;

wherein the plane passes through a portion of the first cap side, a portion of the second cap side, a portion of the third cap side, and a portion of the fourth cap side;

wherein a first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface; and

a button housing configured to receive at least a portion of the lens cap, the button housing having a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

2. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the top surface is curved.

3. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the top surface is dome-shaped.

4. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising:

a lens cap holder configured to hold the lens cap;

wherein the lens cap extends below an edge of the lens cap holder to prevent a liquid from flowing from outside the lens cap to inside the lens cap.

5. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising a gasket configured to surround at least a section of the threaded portion to prevent a liquid from entering the button assembly.

6. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1,

wherein the button housing includes a housing side;

wherein the housing side includes a housing notch configured to allow passage of a liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing.

7. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising a switch configured to be activated to an on state by a user and trigger a change of a information displayed on the light emitting device.

8. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising a clamp including a first clamp side further including a clamp notch configured to facilitate passage of a liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp.

9. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1,

wherein the button housing includes a housing side;

wherein the housing side includes a housing notch configured to allow passage of a liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing; and

a clamp including a first clamp side including a clamp notch configured to facilitate passage of the liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp;

wherein the liquid flows via the housing notch and the clamp notch.

10. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1,

wherein the threaded portion includes a first set of threads; and

further includes a nut having a second set of threads that are complementary to the first set of threads;

wherein the nut has a length configured to prevent a flow of a liquid from outside the nut to inside the nut.

11. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising:

a switch housing including a plurality of switch assembly prongs; and

a button mating component configured to connect to a cable connector connected to a flexible cable;

wherein one of the switch assembly prongs is configured to extend through an opening in the flexible cable to prevent the button assembly from disengaging from the flexible cable.

12. A gaming machine for playing a game, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller configured to execute a game code;

a memory configured to communicate with the gaming controller;

a display device configured to communicate with the gaming controller; and

a button assembly configured to display a presentation based on the game code, the button assembly including:

a light emitting device configured to emit light;

a lens cap configured to protect the light emitting device from being damaged, the lens cap having a top surface, a first cap side, a second cap side, a third cap side, and a fourth cap side, the second cap side connected to the first cap side, the third cap side connected to the second cap side, and the fourth cap side connected to the first cap side and the third cap side to form a plane;

wherein the plane passes through a portion of the first cap side, a portion of the second cap side, a portion of the third cap side, and a portion of the fourth cap side;

wherein a first perpendicular distance between the plane and a first point on the top surface is different than a second perpendicular distance between the plane and a second point on the top surface; and

a button housing configured to receive at least a portion of the lens cap, the button housing having a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

13. A gaming machine in accordance withclaim 12, wherein the game includes a wagering game.

14. A button assembly for directing a flow of a liquid, the button assembly comprising:

a button housing configured to receive a light emitting device;

wherein the button housing includes a first notch configured to facilitate a flow of the liquid from inside the button housing to outside the button housing; and

wherein the button housing includes a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly.

15. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 14, wherein the light emitting device is configured to display information related to a game played using a gaming machine.

16. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 14, further comprising a clamp including a clamp notch configured to facilitate a flow of the liquid from inside the clamp to outside the clamp.

17. A button assembly in accordance withclaim 14, further comprising:

a gasket;

wherein the button housing includes a polygonal cross-sectional portion and a curved cross-sectional portion;

wherein the gasket is configured to surround the curved cross-sectional portion to prevent a flow of the liquid from outside the button housing to inside the button housing.

18. A system for increasing life of a light emitting element, the system comprising:

a controller including a processor and a memory configured to communicate with the processor;

the processor configured to determine whether an event has occurred within a pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to invert a first intensity of a pixel including the light emitting element upon determining that the event has not occurred within the pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to generate an inverted intensity upon inverting the first intensity.

19. A system in accordance withclaim 18, wherein the processor is configured to generate a reduced intensity by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage.

20. A system in accordance withclaim 18, wherein the processor is configured to restore the pixel to the first intensity upon determining that the event has occurred after generating the inverted intensity.

21. A method for increasing life of a light emitting element, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor, whether an event has occurred within a pre-defined time window; and

generating, by the processor, an inverted intensity upon determining that the event has not occurred within the pre-defined time window, wherein generating the inverted intensity is performed by inverting the first intensity.

22. A system in accordance withclaim 21, further comprising generating a reduced intensity by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage.

23. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller configured to execute a game code;

a memory configured to communicate with the gaming controller;

a display device configured to receive information from the gaming controller; and

a processor coupled to the gaming controller and configured to determine whether an event has occurred within a pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to generate an inverted intensity upon determining that the event has not occurred within the pre-defined time window;

the processor configured to generate the inverted intensity by inverting the first intensity.

24. A gaming machine in accordance withclaim 23, wherein the processor is configured to generate a reduced intensity by reducing the inverted intensity by a fixed percentage.

25. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller;

a memory coupled to the master gaming controller;

a button assembly configured to display a function for playing a game executed by the gaming controller, the button assembly being further configured to receive at least a portion of the lens cap, the button housing having a threaded portion configured to prevent a liquid from entering from outside the button assembly to within the button assembly; and

a flexible cable configured to accommodate a connector to form an electrical connection with the button assembly.

26. A system comprising:

a main power supply configured to supply main power;

a light emitting element; and

a low power detector configured to determine whether the main power is less than a threshold value;

the low power detector configured to generate a low power detect signal upon determining that the main power is less than the threshold value;

wherein the low power detect signal informs the light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

27. A system in accordance withclaim 26, further comprising a power storage device configured to supply power to the light emitting element at a time the main power is less than the threshold value and until a time power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

28. A system in accordance withclaim 26, further comprising:

a button assembly including the light emitting element; and

a dedicated line configured to communicate the low power detect signal to the button assembly.

29. A system in accordance withclaim 26, wherein the power detector is configured to determine whether the main power is greater than the threshold.

30. A method comprising:

determining, by a power detector coupled to a processor, whether a main power is less than a threshold value;

generating, by the power detector, a low power detect signal upon determining that the main power is less than the threshold value; and

informing, by the power detector, a light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

31. A method in accordance withclaim 30, further comprising supplying power to the light emitting element at a time the main power is less than the threshold value.

32. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming controller configured to execute a game code;

a memory device coupled to the gaming controller;

a display device configured to display a game upon execution of the game code; and

a low power detector coupled to the gaming controller and configured to determine whether a main power is less than a threshold value;

the low power detector configured to generate a low power detect signal upon determining that the main power is less than the threshold value;

wherein the low power detect signal informs a light emitting element that the main power is less than the threshold before power supplied to the light emitting element is removed.

33. A gaming machine in accordance withclaim 32, further comprising a power storage device configured to supply power to the light emitting element at a time the main power is less than the threshold value.

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